In the market for an unusual home? A converted windmill in West Chiltington, West Sussex, is for sale with Hamptons for £1.6 million.
Built in the 1800s, the Grade II-listed windmill stands three storeys tall, with an octagonal shape, black cladding and two white sails – an image which is used on local road signs, as a logo for a nearby school and by the community-run Southlands Valley Vineyard.
The smock mill —a type of windmill with a tapered, smock-like shape— was used to grind corn into flour until 1922, when it was converted into a house.
Since then, the mill has been extended and altered, with an adjoining single-storey building built in the 20th century. It gained listed status in 1955.
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The mill was purchased by its current owners in 2010, who embarked on a wholesale, three-phase renovation project.
At the time, they had been looking to downsize to a character property, having viewed almost 30 unusual homes.
They fell for the windmill immediately – but it was only after selling their home for more than they’d expected that they were eventually able to buy it for £800,000, according to Land Registry records.
Unusually, the mill’s previous owners moved next door, meaning that they were on hand to answer questions throughout much of the restoration process.
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The couple’s first port of call was to focus on the single-storey building adjoining the mill, seeking to reconfigure, modernise and improve the energy efficiency of the space.
They opened up the kitchen and dining room, removing the flat ceiling and adding skylights to the pitched roof. The kitchen was replaced, with installation and underfloor heating installed.
The second phase of the renovation concentrated on the mill’s interiors, using local tradesman —some of whom had worked on the building previously— to replace three of the four staircases, add new bathrooms and redecorate.
The building has also had a host of energy efficiency upgrades, including the installation of an air source heat pump, an overhaul of its electrics and new solar panels.
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In 2023, almost a decade after works began in 2014, upgrades were made to the exterior. This included replacing the windmill’s windows and doors, re-doing the wooden balcony on the first floor and repairing and redecorating both the mill and its half-tonne sails, which involved removing them entirely.
Although the windmill only has two sails —two were lost in a storm during the 1950s— the owners host occasional “sail turning parties” to help keep the mechanism moving.
Today, the mill contains a living room on the ground floor, plus a library nook, with three octagonal bedrooms each occupying a floor above.
The adjoining building contains a further bedroom, built in the same octagonal shape, plus the new kitchen, dining room and utility room.
Outside, the mill has a series of outbuildings, including a car barn, garage and stables, which bring the property’s footprint up to more than 3,000 square feet.
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Now that their restoration is complete, the windmill’s current owners are downsizing within the village, and the property has been listed with Hamptons for £1.6 million.
“The current owners have done an incredible job, investing considerable time, energy and resources into a comprehensive restoration that not only honours the building’s historic character but also incorporates strong sustainable and eco-friendly credentials - including solar panels, air source heating, double glazing and high-grade insulation,” says Mark Wheeler at Hamptons.
“The result is a very comfortable home within a charming and truly unique building, complete with amazing views.”
He adds: “Interestingly, the previous owners —who had also lovingly cared for the windmill for many years— lived next door for much of the current owners’ tenure, sharing invaluable knowledge whenever needed.
“With the current owners also planning to remain in the village, this tradition is set to continue, passing any advice or intel on to the future custodians.”
