Written by On the evening of Wednesday 2nd July 2025, members of Dunchurch Photographic Society ventured out into the wider world again with the latest Summer Program event. The destination this time being the wonderfully presented Chesterton Windmill, that well-photographed but no-less appealing structure situated on the outskirts of Chesterton village in Warwickshire.
The windmill itself is a grade 1 listed building, and dates from the 17th Century and is a popular destination for photographers across the UK and further afield, with its arched base structure and recently re-installed sails. The mill pre-dates the Great Fire of London of 1666 and was built from locally sourced hard limestone, and includes fine sandstone detailing sitting atop a shallow platform. The platform has a diameter of 71 feet. The top of the mill tower is supported on six semicircular arches and the upper floors feature four windows.
On the evening of our visit, several members visiting for the first time asked how the millers would have accessed the structure seeing as the open arches at the bottom seem to prevent access to the building. In fact some visitors have been under the impression that the mill might have been a folly. But that’s not the case… The mill was used for the milling of grain until 1910.
The space within the arches and under the mill used to have a wooden structure within which to store the grain that was to be milled, and included an open timber staircase to climb up to the milling floors themselves. However, during the mid 20th Century it is understood that a lot of this was removed to prevent vandalism.
The cap of the mill used to be covered with lead sheet, but this has latterly been replaced by aluminium as an additional deterrent for vandalism and theft. Quite what this says about the residents of Warwickshire is open to debate (!) but those are the facts!! And that’s enough Wiki.
On the evening of our visit, it was glorious sunshine with azure blue skies and yet accompanied by a stiff, cooling breeze for those assembled around the mill’s footings. The mission of our visit was to capture images of the windmill at sunset, and this was achieved by numerous members judging by the photographs accompanying this piece. But most important to us at Dunchurch Photographic Society, it was a fun meet up during our ‘closed’ season where members were able to catch up and have a natter about all things photography and other things.
It was a very pleasant evening around the mill, plenty of colour in the sky and some members even stayed well after dark to try their hand at some night sky photography too.
Members will be back at the mill on other ‘clear’ and fair weather nights to capture the mill structure under the stars later in the year all being well when the dark skies start a little earlier!!
Another great gathering of DPS members. My first visit the the windmill so something new to photograph. As usual I learned something new from our friendly and helpful members.