Brill Windmill is a Grade II* listed post mill with 17th century origins on the edge of a pretty hill-top village on the Buckinghamshire/Oxfordshire border. Surrounded by open common land, adjacent to a lively village and with far-reaching views, the windmill is an iconic landmark loved by locals and visitors alike. Families fly kites and picnic nearby, walkers and cyclists rest on her steps, newly-weds pose for photos, visitors leave mementoes for lost loved ones - and, for many villagers, the first sight of Brill Windmill means we are safely home.

Brill Windmill is owned by Brill Parish Council and managed by The Brill Society, a registered charity. The Society exists to protect and enhance the amenities and natural and built environment of Brill, and help residents and visitors alike enjoy and understand our heritage. The windmill is usually open to the public Sunday afternoons, Easter to September, and all administration and routine work, including welcoming visitors, is done by volunteers. The Society receives an annual grant from the Parish Council to cover normal maintenance, including minor repairs and repainting ever few years. Modest admission fees and sale of postcards, fridge magnets and the occasional book further supplement the windmill income.

Late in October 2021, Brill Windmill was badly damaged by high winds. Our millwright quoted £10,000 for a new sail and we started fund-raising. In the months that followed, we were thrilled and humbled by the response. Although there were several large donations, most gifts were relatively modest; heart-felt amounts from people who live nearby, visit Brill regularly, have their own happy childhood memories, or share the memories of parents and grandparents. With the help of all these wonderful people, we were well on the way to reaching our target when, early in 2022, disaster struck: rampant rot was found in the opposite sail. This meant we had to raise a further £10,000 - and so we extended this campaign.

In late Autumn 2022, a year since the Hallowe'en Storm and faced with the onset of another winter, The Brill Society made the difficult decision to dip into reserves to make up the short-fall to pay the millwright's bill. This means that although our windmill has been restored to her full beauty (as you see in the picture) we must continue with this campaign to replenish out finances and lay a secure foundation for the future.

So, if you love Brill Windmill - or just windmills in general - please consider donating to Brill Sailers, the Brill Windmill Repair Fund - and do come and visit us on Sunday afternoons between Easter and the end of Summer. See our website, this page on the Brill Parish Council website, and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for updates - and thank you!