Tours & Visits
Guided Tours
We are delighted to offer special guided tours for interested groups by arrangement on weekdays throughout the entire year. Pricing would be discussed when you contact the windmill.
We also come to you!
We understand that some groups are not able to make the journey to the Windmill so we will happily come to you!
These sessions comprise an hour presentation from an expert speaker about the Wimbledon Windmill, its history and how it became the museum it is today. We don't fix a price for these special sessions, but we would be grateful for a donation to the Windmill, at your discretion.
To learn more about what we can do for you, please contact info@wimbledonwindmill.org.uk or the Contact form for further details.
The Story of Wimbledon Windmill
Learn about the historical importance of the Windmill, how it has changed through time, what its Museum contains (bring your children) and how the Windmill functions as a centre for community activities.
Virtual Tour
Have a sneaky peak at what you can expect when you come for a visit - explore the Windmill and it's Museum with our Virtual Tour
Hands-On History
In this video interview created for Wimblecomm Merton Stories, one of our Trustees, Richard, explains the history of the Windmill and everything you can expect to to see, learn and do when visiting the Wimbledon Windmill Museum.
Wimblecomm is the Community Hub for Merton.
Connecting people, places and passion.
What to expect
Ground Floor
In the Museum lobby there is a Diorama illustrating the construction of the windmill using handtools of the time. All the timbers were hand-sawn from local trees, using a pit saw, and shaped with hand tools.
Complementing this display there is a magnificent collection of the tools of a Norfolk millwright, including many rare and antique tools ranging from the 15th Century to the present day.
In the centre of the building there is a reproduction of the Great Spur Wheel as it would have been when the mill was in operation. Also displayed are rural handtools that were used in the fields and at harvest time.
A continuous film about the design, construction and operation of English windmills can be seen in the Video Room.
Before entering the Model Room it is worth looking at the model watermill with the notes explaining why water was always preferred to wind as a source of power.
The collection of models chart the development of the windmill from its earliest form through to modern day wind turbines. These models, most of which are beautifully detailed models of actual mills, illustrate changes in mill technology including the development of sails and the fantail.
First Floor
On entering you will see millstones and some examples of early methods of milling ahead of you. A supply of grain is provided so that you can try your hand at the saddle stone, mortar and hand quern. There is also a commentary explaining how the millstones work, and the tools used for dressing millstones are shown in a case nearby.
Proceeding clockwise round the upper floor, there are examples of sieving and weighing machines and a display of the development of windmill sails.
The Victorian room shows a room as it would have been when the mill was converted to accommodation after it stopped working in 1864. Press the button to listen to the commentary. Can you hear the cat purring?
Continuing round there are exhibits of mill machinery and a magnificent model of the mill as it was in its working days.
In the central area there are displays of the types of grain used for breadmaking, and a cabinet of Scouting memorabilia to commemorate the writing of part of 'Scouting for Boys' by Robert Baden-Powell in the adjacent mill house in 1908.
From the central area upstairs you can see into the tower and, if you climb the ladder, you can inspect the large cast iron brakewheel at the top of the tower. Originally this wheel turned the iron shaft which ran down the centre of the mill to the Great Spur Wheel on the ground floor.
More when you visit in person!
The Shop is located in the lobby. As well as souvenirs there are books on wind and water mills, local history, Scouting, and even Wombles (who of course live on Wimbledon Common). There are useful maps of the Common, postcards and greetings cards.
Outside the museum there are examples of English and French millstones and farm machinery.
