Chesterton Windmill

Update - October 2024: Over the summer, and safely outside of the bat hibernation period, surveys were carried out at Chesterton Windmill to determine the scale of its bat roost and identify any potential impacts this may have on the planned restoration work. This is because it is illegal to obstruct or remove bat roosts, even if bats are not using them at the time.

The surveys identified a small but long-established roost, mainly consisting of brown long eared bats. Bat droppings also helped to identify long-term use of the roost, rather than there being a high number of bats.

The surveys also confirmed the main entry point for bats to access the roost, which is at the point where the sails would normally attach to the windmill. The contractor will factor this into the installation of the sails to ensure we maintain appropriate year-round access for bats to continue using the windmill as a roosting space.

More recently Owlsworth Conservation, our principal contractor, has received all of the materials required in order to start building the windmill’s new stocks and sails.

The stocks are being built first, which are the large wooden beams to which the windmill's sails will be attached. The following photos have kindly been provided by Owlsworth Conservation:

This build is currently on schedule, and the build of the four news sails, which will attach to the stocks, will then follow. To prepare for installation of the sails, the project team have submitted a planning application to Stratford-on-Avon District Council for the replacement of the sails and, subject to planning approval, their installation is expected to take place early next year.

Warwickshire County Council’s (WCC) project team is delighted to share that the Scheduled Monument Consent (SMC) application, sent to Historic England for their consideration on behalf of the Secretary of State, has been approved. This means WCC now has the relevant permissions in place to progress the replacement of the sails restoration work, all whilst ensuring the planned work is appropriate and sympathetic to the windmill’s character.

The approval of SMC also means the project team have been able to progress the procurement process and receive tenders from multiple contractors. Following consultation within the project team, Owlsworth Conservation has been confirmed as the Principal Contractor for the manufacture and installation of the new Chesterton Windmill sails. Work will now begin on sourcing the materials required to prepare building the new sails.

In December 2023 the Warwickshire County Council (WCC) project team, supported by a licensed ecologist, determined that Chesterton Windmill likely houses a large bat roost. However, the specific species and the number of bats cannot be determined at this time of year due to the winter hibernation period.

In the UK all species of bats, including their breeding sites and resting places, are fully protected by law. This means that no building or repair works can be carried out on a site until the bats leave of their own accord. For more information about this topic, please visit the Historic England website.

This is not the first time WCC has encountered bats on a restoration project, and the team have worked diligently to develop a revised project programme. This factors in the additional requirements for the ecologist to carry out further surveys and tests to clarify the size and type of bat roost. This will inform how the building can be accessed in the future and when is an appropriate time for the works to take place onsite later this year. In February we submitted our Scheduled Monument Consent (SMC) application to Historic England for their consideration on behalf of the Secretary of State, which is a significant milestone for the project. Finally, the team are about to start the procurement process, which includes confirming the suppliers who will start preparing the timber so that it’s ready for the construction of the four sails later this year. We are passionate about restoring the sails of Chesterton Windmill as soon as we can, to be enjoyed by the people of Warwickshire and beyond, and will continue to share the latest information with you as the project progresses.