Brixton Windmill

Author: Sophie Jackson

During September 2005 MoLAS archaeologists Gabby Rapson, Portia Askew and Graham Kenlin helped at this year's community and schools' excavation at Brixton Windmill. The excavation was run by Lesley Smith ('Discovering Archaeology') and was supported by Lambeth Council, the Friends of Brixton Windmill and English Heritage. A previous season of work took place in September 2004.

The wider aims of the project are to raise awareness within the local community of the history of the windmill, and of its importance to local heritage; to raise the profile of the Friends of Windmill Gardens campaign to restore the windmill, build an education centre and develop the Windmill Gardens site; to increase the local community's sense of ownership of their local archaeology/heritage; and to raise awareness of the process and methodology of archaeological investigation.

Brixton windmill was built in 1816 and was leased in 1817 by John Ashby. John, his sons and grandson were millers producing stone-ground wholemeal flour. The Ashby family operated the mill - which became known as 'Ashby's Mill' - for the whole of its working life. The mill is owned today by Lambeth Borough Council. At present, besides grassed open space and trees, Windmill Gardens contains a children's playground and a One O'Clock Club.

This site report is extracted from MoLAS 2005: annual review