Bourn Windmill

Bourn Windmill

Bourn Windmill is the oldest windmill in England and is designated as an Ancient Monument.

Perched in lovely countryside to the west of Cambridge it is owned and cared for by local charity Cambridge Past, Present & Future, who enlist the help of a team of volunteers to support the opening and care of the mill.

The Windmill dates from before 1636. It is an open trestle post mill, which means that the whole mill rotates around a central pole. There are only around 50 of this type of extraordinary windmill remaining in the UK, 5 of which are in Cambridgeshire. Much of the mills’ interior and workings are original with numerous names and dates carved onto the woodwork. The exterior of Bourn Windmill can be visited at any time.

Open days

Every year the windmill is opened on five Sundays – and this year one Saturday – between May and September. Bourn Mill reopened in May 2023 for the first time since 2020 following major restoration work to save it from collapse.

Click here to find out about our project to Save Bourn Windmill.

See the mill in action at one of our open days : check our What’s On/Events for more information.

Groups visits can also be arranged at other times, please get in touch to enquire.

Click here to download our Bourn Windmill visitors leaflet.

Click here to download our Bourn Windmill Countryside Walks leaflet.

There is an eco-toilet which is available on mill open days.

Visit the Mill

If you would like to bring a school or youth group to the windmill, this will need to be arranged in advance. Please contact us to make a request: enquiries@cambridgeppf.org 01223 243830

Directions, Transport & Access

The mill is located off Caxton Road, Bourn CB23 2SU between the villages of Bourn and Caxton. There is a small car park close to the mill which is open from dawn to dusk on Caxton Road. This is just to the west of the turning to Bourn Mill Cottage. There is a grass path leading to the Mill from the rear of the car park.

There are lovely walks in the surrounding countryside with a footpath link from Bourn village to the mill as well as a footpath from the centre of Cambourne leading to the mill. Click here for a walks map.

For information about bus services: www.stagecoachbus.com/cambridge

Access to the mill is via a grass path. Access to the interior of the mill is by a steep external ladder.

Pictures 2&3 © Matthew Power Photography