Windmill Brass, St Margaret's Church, Kings Lynn, Norfolk
Water mills were common in England before the Norman Conquest. The wind was more difficult to harness. The first windmills did not appear in England until the late 12th century. As wind is a less reliable power source than water, windmills were first used only in areas where there was not a good supply of water. They are found in every county, particularly in the south-east. The first windmills in England were post mills. This brass of 1349 is the earliest known picture of a windmill in England and shows a post mill. Find out more about windmills and watermills in our Teachers' Kit - Mills.
