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The Windmill and St. Leonards Church

A windmill of an early 18th century type was a landmark in the district. It was last used in 1905 and was restored in 1935, 1955 and 1982 but destroyed by the hurricane in October 1987. As you walk towards its site over the fields you will pass various depressions which mark the old streets when once this area was entirely built over. One particularly large ditch on the far side of the cricket field marks the re-walling of the town which was carried out in the 15th century along one of the older roads.

Near the site of the mill was the little church of St. Leonard. This stood outside the original wall of Winchelsea and was, in fact, the parish church of Iham, a village that was here long before the town was built. The church probably fell into decay about 1500 but the walls appear to have been standing in 1763 when Stephens showed them on his map. It is possible that they survived until 1810 when the windmill was moved there from its original site some 200 yards to the north. Below the hillside is the site of Iham's houses. Below this again was probably the site of a small harbour which existed in Roman times.

Now the church of St Leonard has vanished completely and so has the Windmill blown down in the Great Gale of October 1987. In its place is our new beacon erected as part of the Millennium celebrations and lit for the first time on New Year's Eve at midnight to celebrate the start of the New Millennium