Home > Lincolnshire > Swinstead > The Windmill The Windmill
Date of photo: 2000	© Copyright Rex Needle and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
The Windmill was situated on the High Street. This grade-II listed pub closed c2010.
From: Lincolnshire Heritage Explorer:
Public house, dating from the 17th century, with 18th century additions and 19th and 20th century alterations. Built of coursed limestone rubble with ashlar quoins and dressings, and features pantile roofs with crested ridge tiles, single raised stone coped gable, and three ridge stacks (two of brick with the other of moulded ashlar). Laid out to an L-shaped planform and single storey with attics. The building has an irregular seven bay front, with the left hand bay gable-end-on to the street, and the right hand end two bays being a slightly taller addition. For the full description and the legal address of this listed building please refer to the appropriate entry in the National Heritage List for England. An interesting example of probable 18th century historical graffiti survives at the Windmill Inn. The graffito is located to the left-hand side of the entrance doorway from the High Street, and shows a nice carving of a post-mill type of windmill. The graffito is partially covered by the later bay-window addition to the left, but has a number of dates carved around it, thought to be 1790, and either 1782 or 1732 (with the 3 reversed), along with other letters or possible initials. The carving is clearly in reference to the Inn's name, and may be a representation of one of the former post mill type of windmills known to have existed to both the north and south of Swinstead.
Listed building details:
Public house. C17 with C18 additions and C19 and C20 alterations. Coursed limestone rubble with ashlar quoins and dressings, pantile roofs with crested ridge tiles, single raised stone coped gable, 3 ridge stacks, 2 brick and one moulded ashlar. L-plan. Single storey with attics, irregular 7 bay front, left hand bay is gable end to street and the right hand end 2 bays are a slightly taller addition. Off-centre 6 flush panelled door flanked by single canted rendered C18 bay windows containing fixed plain lights, with hipped roofs. Beyond to the right are 2 similar bay windows and 2 C20 3 light casements. To first floor of left hand range is a C20 2 light casement with wooden lintel. In the roofs to the right are 4 gabled dormers with 2 light casements and rendered cheeks.
Do you have any anecdotes, historical information, updates or photos of this pub? Become a contributor by submitting them here. You can also make email contact with other ex-customers and landlords of this pub by adding your details to this page.