Description
Windmill Gardens is named for the windmill that was in use between 1816 -1862 and again between 1902-34, after which it closed and was used for storage. Outbuildings were demolished by bombing in WWII. In 1957 the windmill and surrounding land were purchased by the LCC, with further land added in 1960 and 1961. Windmill Gardens opened in 1962 and restoration of the old windmill began in 1963 and it first opened to the public in the Easter of 1968. Some restoration works have taken place in recent years.
Practical Information
| Site location | Blenheim Road/Blenheim Gardens |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SW2 5ET |
| What3Words | ///nets.cats.picked |
| Type of Site | Public Gardens |
| Borough | Lambeth |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 7.30am - 15 minutes before sunset |
| Facilities | Children's play area (dog free) |
| Public Transport | Rail/Tube: Brixton (Victoria) then bus. Bus: 118, 250, 133, 433, 45, 159, 59 |
| Research Updated | 4 January 2024 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The windmill here was built in 1816 but closed when the surrounding area was built up between 1852 and 1862. It was later put to use again between 1902-1934 when it was driven by steam and then gas engine, and used for wholemeal flour production after which it finally closed due to lack of demand. It was also known as Ashby's Mill after the miller, Brixton Mill or the Merry Brixton Flour Mills. The grandson of Ashby the miller died in 1935 and it was used for storage from 1934. The stables and outbuildings were demolished in 1941 by bombing, when a pig apparently 'having been hurled through the roof, walked down Blenheim Gardens to the butcher's on the local Parade, and then, still dazed, into the Salvation Army hall, where it passed the rest of the night.'
In 1957 the windmill and surrounding land were purchased by the LCC for £7,845. In 1960 a small piece of land was purchased from the Metropolitan Water Board as well as No. 47 Blenheim Gardens from Langton Gate Properties Ltd, and No. 49, also known as the Mill House, was purchased in 1961. The gardens contain a children’s playground, seating, mature trees and native hedges.
In 1957 the windmill and surrounding land were purchased by the LCC for £7,845. In 1960 a small piece of land was purchased from the Metropolitan Water Board as well as No. 47 Blenheim Gardens from Langton Gate Properties Ltd, and No. 49, also known as the Mill House, was purchased in 1961. The gardens contain a children’s playground, seating, mature trees and native hedges.
Over time the windmill gradually fell into disrepair, but local residents formed the Friends of Windmill Gardens to help campaign for its protection and eventual restoration. In 2010 a grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, supported by funding from Lambeth Council, enabled it to be restored to start grinding corn again, and to provide managed public access to discover its contents and construction. In 2015 the Friends secured funding to build a new education centre in Windmill Gardens. The Brixton Windmill Centre was finally completed in July 2020 and it is now available for schools, training and events, supporting both the Brixton Windmill and the rest of the Gardens. Windmill Gardens is one of 4 holders of the Green Flag Community Award in Lambeth.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ304743 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 1.56 |
| Site Ownership | LB Lambeth |
| Site Management | Environment Directorate, Parks and Greenspaces Unit (Team Lambeth); Friends Group |
| Dates | 1960s |
| Listed Structures | LBII*: Windmill |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Lambeth |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Park |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
Dumbarton Court was built in 1936-39 for a property developer by W Vernon Coupland; the lease was purchased by Lambeth Borough Council in 1959. The planting consists of a small grassed area with trees and seating in front of block of flats to Brixton Hill.
Rush or Rushey Common is former commonland that was allocated to landowners in Lambeth Manor under an Inclosure Award of 1810, and was partly used to form new roads. Remaining open sections of the common were protected from development under the Rush Common Act 1806. The common remains as a series of linear open spaces consisting of landscaped areas with grass, paths and trees, a Woodland Walk, and children's play area. The public open space was extended to the north when a remnant of land was transformed into Brixton Orchard; another addition is south of the Woodland Walk, a small area created with community involvement and known as Pencil Park. A number of adjacent private gardens along Brixton Hill are former commonland and also protected by the Rush Common Act, including those for residents of Tudor Close and Raleigh Gardens.
This triangular site was originally a communal garden at the centre of a private development of houses erected in the 1890s. By 1928 it was owned by Holmewood Gardens Limited who managed the garden out of a rent of 10s per annum paid by each house on the estate. It originally fell within LB Wandsworth prior to borough boundary changes. In the 1960s the garden was conveyed to LB Lambeth under the 1906 Open Spaces Act. Restoration works in 1988 included new railings and the intervening roadway was closed off. The garden is divided into two sections either side of a public pathway. Both areas are grassed with a playground in the north area; within the garden are a few mature plane trees and some ornamental species.