European Post Mill

Timeline

1. c. 1180–1200England · EnglandThe post mill placed the main body of the mill on a single upright post, turning the whole structure to face the wind via a lever or tailpole; better able to exploit shifting winds than fixed windmills, it spread rapidly in England and northern France.
2. c. 1300–1450Netherlands · Low CountriesThe flat, windy terrain of the Low Countries made it a dense area of post mills; besides grinding wheat, drainage windmills were developed for reclaiming polders; the Baltic coast of northern Europe also adopted this form.
3. 1461–1470Zeeland · ZeelandBy the 1460s post mills were commonplace in the countryside of Northwest Europe; millers and craftsmen improved sail angles, braking devices, and transmission gears; windmills became an indispensable power source for rural grain processing and land drainage.
4. c. 1600–1850Netherlands · Low CountriesSturdier brick and stone tower mills gradually replaced wooden post-mill structures, especially in large drainage works; some post mills have been preserved to this day as cultural heritage and museums.