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 Bourn Windmill re-opened in 2023 after being closed for 3 years for essential restoration works.

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 Bourn Windmill re-opened in 2023 after being closed for 3 years for essential restoration works.

About Bourn Windmill

Bourn Windmill is one of the oldest windmills in England and is designated as an Ancient Monument.

The sails of the mill have to face squarely into the wind and to achieve this the entire mill is rotated around the central post – a surprisingly easy, but dramatic, task for two or three people.

There are only around 50 trestle post mills left surviving in the UK, 5 of which are in Cambridgeshire.

Bourn windmill is owned and cared for by Cambridge Past Present & Future, supported by our members, patrons and supporters.

Visiting Bourn Windmill

The exterior of Bourn Windmill can be visited at any time.

You can see inside the mill and see the mill in action at one of our open days on five summer Sundays between May and September, check our What’s On/Events for more information.

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

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

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

Visitor Leaflet

Click here to download our Bourn Windmill visitors leaflet.

Walks Leaflet

Click here to download our Bourn Windmill Countryside Walks leaflet.

Watch the Cambridge Hungarian Culture Club Walk from Cambourne to the Bourn Windmill Open Day - click here to watch the full video with audio.

The Cambridge Hungarian Culture Club Walk from Cambourne to the Bourn Windmill open day

Become a Guardian of this space

Bourn Windmill is cared for by people just like you. By joining as a member or patron you will be helping Cambridge Past, Present & future care for and protect Bourn Windmill and the Charity’s other green spaces and heritage in Cambridgeshire.

Memberships start at £29.99 and all memberships include free entry to our open days, free parking at Wandlebury, 10% off at the Orchard Tea garden, subsidised venue hire & more.

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.

Access to the mill is via a grass path. Access to the interior of the mill is by a steep external ladder. Inside the mill there is a further steep ladder. In total the climb is around 30 steps.

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

Activities & Events

View Full Calendar

Learn More about Bourn Windmill

Talks Available:

The History of Milling through the Ages Including Modern Mill.

This talk features Bourn Windmill and its history and recent restoration as well as looking at other mills and talking about the development of windmills to modern milling.
We also talk about the other properties owned by the charity and its work to protect buildings and greenspace in Cambridgeshire.
Talk by Graham Bruce & Kate Armstrong. Donation £50-£70.

Click Here to Enquire

The History of Milling at Bourn and Other Mills through the Ages

This talk features Bourn Windmill and its history and recent restoration as well as looking at other mills. We also talk about the other properties owned by the charity and its work to protect buildings and greenspace in Cambridgeshire. The talk covers the history of windmills using pictures from ancient manuscripts and other interesting pictures. Talk by Andrew Smith & Kate Armstrong. Donation £50-£70

Click Here to Enquire