West Cowick Windmill
Click here for the West Cowick Windmill Excavation Report
Isn't it great when a project works?! The remit for our West Cowick excavation was to find the site of the windmill ... and that's exactly what happened!
And, to celebrate, Alan, Kathryn, Olga and Bob very kindly invited us to an afternoon of drinks and nibbles on Saturday, 26th August 2023. We all toasted the mill as Olga and Bob unveiled the new blue plaque which was very kindly provided by Snaith Blue Signs, a project funded by Snaith and Cowick Town Council.
We were all very impressed with the brickwork which has been installed to mark the site of the base of the windmill and the glass viewing box which reveals part of the foundations of the mill.
This was a lovely project to be involved in - thank you to all the family for inviting us!
West Cowick is a small village on the outskirts of Snaith, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The site of the windmill formed part of Cowick Fields.
Deeds for the site on which the windmill stands suggest that the mill was built some time between 1798 and 1822 by John Tate, a farmer of Carlton. By 1857 the site is described as "the corn windmill with stables, shed, granary and other buildings - built by John Tate, Senior - and being in the occupation of Messrs Rhodes and Rockett." There is, as yet, no mention of a dwelling house on the site.
The following year, however, not only the corn mill and outbuildings are mentioned, but also the dwellinghouse and conveniences ‘lately erected and built by George Dudley Rockett’. So the building of the house seems to have commenced during 1858.
The site went through a large number of owners and occupiers until, around 1928, the windmill was demolished.
The present owners contacted our Society during 2022, asking if we could help them to locate the actual site of the windmill. We were more than happy to assist and our dig commenced on 25th April 2023. Watch this space for updates!
Day 7
Well, we have completed our on site work at West Cowick. A very successful project and it looks like the site will be marked by a blue plaque organised by one of the local history groups.
It is also planned for part of trench 2 to be preserved for viewing by the installation of a perspex viewing panel.
Many thanks to Alan and family for giving us the opportunity to carry out this dig! And congratulations to Gary for leading the project and to all the team who solved the mystery of "Where was West Cowick Windmill"?
Day 6
Well, we tried to find the mill stones that were supposed to be buried in the remains of the granary/mill cottages but to no avail. However, we did find the foundations of the cottage walls and a cobbled surface from when the cottages were converted to a cart store.
Day 5
The look of success! We have found part of the windmill wall in situ!
Day 4
As the saying goes, What a difference a day makes! Yesterday we were fairly certain we had the foundations of the windmill wall. Having cleared out the backfill between the floor and the chalk foundation it now looks as though the wall now no longer exists, the bricks having all been robbed out. What we thought was the wall foundation seems to be chalk backfill after construction (possible base for a paved area). If you look closely you can see where the edges of the floor have been broken away to probably gain access to the bricks.
Interesting collection of wire as well!
Well that's our guess 😁
Day 3
One of the great things about archaeology is that it always keeps you guessing. Yesterday at the West Cowick dig we uncovered the rim of what at first looked like a drain. Then we found that it had a bottom. Plant pot. Then we found a corroded metal handle nearby. Ah! a hanging plant pot.
Today we managed to remove it. And it was a paint tin 🤣🤣
Day 2
Another very productive day. It looks very possible that we may have found the foundation level of the windmill wall.
Also uncovered a complete pot in the backfill of a gap between the floor and the wall.
The trench continues to turn up great lumps of iron work, one of which looks very much like the axle of some sort of barrow. Watch this space for more pics tomorrow!
Day 1
We made a great start to our new dig at West Cowick. This is only the first day and it looks like we already have a floor!
Now, where on earth did I bury that bone?