Lacey Green Windmill

* NB - These pages contain many photos and could take a while to download on a slow internet connection.

Lacey Green windmill stands on the escarpment of the Chiltern Hills, near Princes Risborough and halfway between High Wycombe and Aylesbury. Since 1971 it has been restored back to working order by members of The Chiltern Society. The 1970 picture below shows the sad condition it had reached. It has been restored to preserve its unique wooden machinery, which probably dates from around 1650, making this the oldest smock windmill in the country.

All the restoration work has been done by volunteers, led by Christopher Wallis, who devised the methods by which the collapsing mill could be straightened, strengthened and made watertight to survive into the future.

2007 OPENING TIMES

In 2007, the windmill will be open to the public from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays from Sunday 6th May to Sunday 30th September.

Admission Charges: Adult £1, Child 50p.

For further details about visiting the mill, such as access, facilities, location, and travelling,

please look at the Information for Visitors page.

Christopher Wallis died on 10th May 2006 after a short illness. Lacey Green Windmill only stands today because of his passion for historic buildings, and mills in particular. Since 1971 he was the driving force behind the many volunteers that between them gave thousands of hours of their time to restore the windmill.

After starting the restoration at Lacey Green, Christopher left his work as a Civil Engineer. He then devoted his engineering and carpentry skills to restoring many other historic buildings across the country.

His everlasting enthusiasm has been instrumental in encouraging others to take up restoration work. The mere fact of hearing Christopher's strong opinions, or seeing the work that he has achieved, has led many more people to appreciate the vital importance of preserving historic buildings in our landscape.

This photograph shows Christopher Wallis at an event in October 2005 which marked the 40th Anniversary of the founding of The Chiltern Society at The Guildhall in High Wycombe. The area of the Chiltern Hills was always a special place to Christopher, where he and his wife Barbara chose to live and bring up their family.

Within the week following Christopher's death, six members of his family visited the windmill.

Christopher Wallis Memorial Fund

Christopher's family have requested that any donations in his memory should be sent to the Chiltern Open Air Museum, Newland Park, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire, HP8 4AB.

Cheques should be payable to Chiltern Open Air Museum Ltd.

Please write Christopher Wallis Memorial Fund on back of cheque.

For more details of the Chiltern Open Air Museum, see their web site.

Lacey Green Windmill was open on Sunday 14th May. We were able to have the sails turning all afternoon, which we did as our small tribute to Christopher Wallis, who had died just 4 days earlier.

On 12th March 2006, the BBC's Country File programme included a look at the Chilterns by John Craven, as part of a series on different ranges of hills around the country. Lacey Green windmill was included in the programme, as well as some other local places of interest.

This photograph shows John Craven with the late Christopher Wallis, the man who has led the restoration of the windmill since it was started in 1971.

On Saturday 6th May 2006, the windmill had a short mention in an article about windmills and National Mills Weekend. However, please do not believe that I (Michael Hardy) am the miller (as stated in the article). I am just the Honorary Secretary of our committee. We do not have a miller as the mill is not working, but restored to working order. Also, Christopher Wallis (not Wallace) was not a SPAB expert (as stated in the article). He was a civil engineer who devised the methods of restoration, and then organised the restoration of Lacey Green windmill, teaching many volunteers along the way.

During this annual weekend, which will be on 12th and 13th May in 2007, as many mills as possible are open and working.

Lacey Green Windmill will be open on the Sunday (13th May) only from 2.30 to 5.30 pm. Weather permitting, we will try to have the sails turning. Obviously we will need some wind, but also a dry day to avoid the sailcloths getting wet.

For further information on previous years at Lacey Green Windmill, click on Special Events

The weekend is coordinated by the Mills Section of SPAB (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings). For their information on National Mills Weekend click on: SPAB - Mills Section

CONTACT

This web site has been produced by Michael Hardy, Honorary Secretary of Lacey Green Windmill Restoration Committee. You can contact me as follows:

E-mail: laceygreenmill@btinternet.com

Telephone: 01844 275871

Lacey Green Windmill has been restored by members of The Chiltern Society. Click on the logo to visit the Society's web site.

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