Wimbledon Windmill

A new exhibit for 2010 was opened by the Mayor of Merton on Tuesday 23rd February.

The new Wind Power gallery is devoted to modern uses of windpower and brings the museum exhibits up to date. The windmill models in the museum are made to a scale of 1:50, and most are 30 - 50 cm high, but the new wind turbine model to the same scale stands 3m high and part of the ceiling has been cut away to accommodate it.

The new display is not intended to suggest that the museum trustees are unequivocal supporters of wind power; it illustrates both the advantages and disadvantages of this apparently free source of power. Although the wind is free, it is fickle and does not always blow when it is needed. The museum has for many years featured a model of a watermill, with the caption, "No one has ever built a windmill if he could build a watermill." Water has always been considered a better source of power; it is there every day, it flows in the same direction, its speed can be controlled and it can be stored until it is needed. These criteria do not apply to wind.

But when the wind does blow, it can be used to generate power that would otherwise have to be produced by other means.