The Brixton Windmill Art Print. An illustrated piece of London history.
The great black windmill stands alone, quietly hidden away from the claws of demolishers and developers of London. Sadly, the last survivor of it's kind in the city. This hidden gem is literally down the road from where the artist lives.
In 2016, this grand old Brixton Windmill celebrated it's 200th birthday, and is still going strong. The stone ground wholemeal flour, made from local organically sourced wheat, can be bought in various local shops in Brixton.
After the war, there were proposals to demolish the mill and build a block of flats. The proposal was rejected and it was decided to conserve the mill, which was restored in 1964 by London County Council. New sails were fitted, and machinery from a derelict windmill at Burgh le Marsh, Lincolnshire installed to replace that which had been removed.
Windmills were once a familiar feature of London’s landscape and the most powerful machines of the pre-industrial world. Brixton Windmill is a tangible reminder to all Londoners of the close links that the capital had with agriculture and food production. As London expanded in the mid-19th century, building development overtook the agricultural land and fields of the borough, and most windmills were lost.
Stay strong dear Windmill, for many years to come!