Shirley Windmill
Attraction · Shirley, England
Shirley Windmill is a brick tower mill in Postmill Close, CR0 5DY, Grade II listed as NHLE 1079277. The Friends of Shirley Windmill open it from 12 noon to 5pm on 7 June, 5 July, 2 August, 6 September, London Open House Day on 20 September and 4 October 2026; the National Mills Day date of 10 May is cancelled for want of volunteers. The mill has two pairs of millstones and the operator states that the original machinery has recently been restored.
History
Historic England first listed the mill on 29 January 1951 under the statutory address Shirley Windmill, Upper Shirley Road. The operator records that William Alwen built a post mill on the site in 1808 and that fire destroyed it in October 1854; his grandson Richard built the present tower mill, which the Alwen family worked until the late 1880s. Alfred Rayson bought it and used it for animal feed until his death in 1892, when milling was abandoned, and lightning struck the mill in 1899 and again in 1906. Croydon Council owns, maintains and repairs it, and the Friends staff and manage it on open days. The operator reports 1,037 visitors across the 2025 season and 29,612 since open days began in 1995.
Visit
Postmill Close, Croydon CR0 5DY
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