Chesterton Windmill
We are delighted to confirm that work to install the four new sails at Chesterton Windmill was officially completed on Wednesday 2 April.
Warwickshire County Council has worked closely with construction and heritage consultants, Chana Projects, and the millwright specialists at Owlsworth Conservation, throughout the project to complete the successful installation of the windmill sails.
Here are a few progress photos kindly provided by Chana Projects of the trellis-style sail frames being added onto the stocks. The stocks form the central X shape of the sails.
Following a final site inspection on Wednesday 2 April, the project team have removed all equipment from the site - allowing the first opportunity to capture some new photographs of Chesterton Windmill with its sails.
Ayub Khan, Head of Libraries, Heritage and Culture, and Registration Services at Warwickshire County Council, said:
Chesterton Windmill is an iconic monument both in Warwickshire’s landscape and as part of our country’s history. The restoration of the windmill’s sails means a lot to the local people who visit and photograph the site often, and we are all delighted to see the sails stand proudly on the windmill once again.
Heritage and culture is important to our county and our sense of belonging here in Warwickshire. It’s so important that we maintain and care for our county’s history, as it means that special monuments like Chesterton Windmill will continue to be enjoyed now and by future generations to come.
Following a final site inspection on Wednesday 2 April, the project team have removed all equipment from the site - allowing the first opportunity to capture some new photographs of Chesterton Windmill with its sails.
We kindly ask all those interested in visiting the windmill to see the new sails to keep to the grass paths and avoid entering the surrounding fields.






Update 2 - March 2025: Earlier this month security fencing was installed around Chesterton Windmill in preparation for works to begin. On Thursday 13 March, the project team officially began work on site.
The first major job, once all the sails components had arrived, was to hoist the two large - and very heavy - wooden stocks into position on the windmill. The stocks form the central X shape of the sails. They are both nearly 12 metres long, and weigh around a quarter of a tonne each.
As developments continue to take place on site over the next few weeks, we kindly ask all those interested in watching the progress of the project to do so from a safe distance on the grass paths and to avoid entering the surrounding fields.




Update - March 2025: Cllr Christopher Kettle, Warwickshire County Councillor for Feldon, and Ayub Khan, Warwickshire County Council's Head of Libraries, Heritage & Culture, and Registration Service, were invited to see the progress to Chesterton Windmill's stocks and sails in December 2024.
The sails are being built by Owlsworth Conservation, the principal contractor for the sails restoration project, at their site near Reading.
Cllr Chris Kettle said: “The visit to Owslworth's site in December was a great opportunity to discuss with the team and observe first-hand the specialist skills required to create the stocks and sails for Chesterton Windmill. I could see that the restoration of the sails was in safe and knowledgeable hands, and it will be a great moment to witness the sails back on the windmill in 2025 so that it can stand proudly once again along Warwickshire's skyline. This current restoration builds on the previous major restoration of the Windmill in 1971, again by Warwickshire County Council, when my late father was the Councillor for what is now the Feldon Division”.
Ayub Khan added: “Chesterton Windmill is an iconic monument both in Warwickshire’s landscape and as part of our country’s history, and it has been an exciting day speaking with the project team to understand how the frames of the sails are coming together. It won’t be long until the sails are back on the windmill and it’s going to be a very exciting day to watch their installation”.
At the December site visit, all of the whips, which attach to the stocks, had been morticed out ready to accept the sail bars, and all of the sails bars had been fitted into their sails frames. The team had also progressed how much of the sail frames had received the relevant Kreidezeit white paint coatings.
In January 2025, Owlsworth Conservation successfully completed all of the different components for Chesterton Windmill’s sails, including the four sail frames, the stocks, the metalwork, and lightening protection tape. These components have now been safely moved into storage and are ready for installation.
You may remember a few months ago that we submitted a planning application to Stratford-on-Avon District Council for the replacement of the sails. We are pleased to share that in February this application was approved!
This means that the project team have been able to focus on arranging the logistics for the transportation of the sails, and onsite installation of the sails, at Chesterton.
From Tuesday 4 March, security fencing is being installed around Chesterton Windmill. This is in preparation for works to begin.

We kindly ask all those interested in watching the progress of the project to do so from a safe distance on the grass paths and to avoid entering the surrounding fields.
Chesterton Windmill is one of Warwickshire’s most famous landmarks. It has stood on a hilltop overlooking the village of Chesterton for nearly 350 years. It was built around 1632 – 1633, probably by Sir Edward Peyton, who was Lord of the Chesterton Manor House. At this time John Stone, a pupil of Inigo Jones, was in Chesterton designing the new Manor House and he probably helped with designing the windmill as well.
The estate accounts at the Warwickshire County Record Office show that that the structure has always been a windmill, making it the earliest tower mill in England to retain any of its working parts.
The windmill was restored between 1965 and 1974 by Warwickshire County Council who are now the guardians of the Windmill.
Opening times
The windmill is open to the public during Heritage Open Weekends in Spring and Autumn. Find out more about opening dates and times.
Free entry
General admission to the Windmill on Heritage Open Weekends is free.
Parking
There is on road parking nearby. During Heritage Open Weekends a parking area may be provided with a small charge.
Facilities and access
The Windmill is located on top of a hill just off the Fosse Way. Please note that there is no level access up to the windmill. To view the internal workings of the Windmill visitors must ascend a number of steep stone steps.
No public toilets are available at the site.