Chesterton Windmill without sails 2023 Warwickshire

Chesterton windmill has featured in my blog over the years.  The windmill is a popular structure sitting on top of a prominent hill in Warwickshire just outside Leamington Spa.  You can just see the windmill from the M40 motorway, but you need to be a passenger as your eyes have to search for it in the landscape.  During the Covid Lockdown, we visited the windmill many times to meet up with our grandchildren and therefore the place has many special memories.   I have not visited much in the last two years as the sails have been sent off for repairs.  The repair process has been ongoing with no sign of the sails being returned. On Twitter, David Adams, a member of the Chesterton Archaeology Research Team lamented about the situation to English Heritage and Historic England.  He tweeted that the Windmill was looking more like a folly these days.  His words spurred me on to visit once again.  

Chesterton Windmill without sails 2023 Warwickshire
A low down view of the sail-less windmill from the adjoining Barley field.

The place was quiet when I arrived, and I was the only visitor around.  I had brought along my tripod and spent my time leisurely approaching the windmill taking pictures.  To begin with I used my 400mm lens to obtain some pictures of the lines in the field lined up with the remaining windmill structure. There are lines in the barley crop that provide a lead into the windmill making for an attractive picture.    At the windmill, there is evidence of both natural and artificial erosion of the surrounding wall and the four-legged structure.  The artificial erosion is the damage caused by visitors.  There are stones scattered around the site and part of the surrounding wall is broken.  The damage is unsightly, and no one is taking care or looking to repair the war.  

Chesterton Windmill without sails 2023 Warwickshire
Evidence of wall damage that is all around the Windmill.

The sails are obviously missing, and this removes much of the majestic appearance of the windmill.   Any windmill will look deflated without sails.  The unique architecture is still appealing for photographs but it is still not the same.  A popular place for viewing the windmill is just into the fields on the western approach.   With care I went along the tracks into the fields to set up my picture.  For these pictures, I decided to use my big stopper filter.  This was used to slow down time providing a cinematic feel to the pictures.  There is some blurring of the barley due to the light wind blowing across the area.  The clouds passed by and so did the time.  I decided to move on, leave the peace behind and re-enter the hectic time of the day.

Chesterton Windmill without sails 2023 Warwickshire
The windmill does not look the same without the sails. We need them back.

There was still some sadness as I left.  The windmill is looking more like a folly without its sails.  Using this blog and social media, I will ask people to post pictures of Chesterton Windmill in a campaign to bring back the sails. The picture below is one of my favourite pictures of the Windmill which was featured in the BBC England Big Picture

Chesterton Windmill WITH SAILS

Here are some links of the Windmill

Chesterton Windmill as covered by Our Warwickshire

If you wish to see the sails returned then please contact Warwickshire county council.

You may see some more pictures of Chesterton windmill from my previous visits in my blog

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Kenilworth Castle Sept 2021

Our last visit to Kenilworth castle was in 2019 when the grandchildren were much younger. A revisit was needed now that they were in a “run about mode”.  The weather was kind and ideal for outside activities.  We arrived and the children were very excited.  I brought my x100v with me plus I activated the flash on the camera at around 1/64.  I knew that I would be taking lots of pictures often in dark areas of the castle. The children ran to the far end of the castle and we were led straight to the Elizabethan garden. This was immediately followed by the Norman keep.  It was difficult keeping up with them.  However it made for some interesting photography as you are constantly trying to adapt and keep up with their sudden movement!  The ruins have many nooks and crannies which are ideal hiding places for children. Sometimes we really thought we had lost them.  There was a path that went upwards to the battlements. No sooner had we reached the top when it was back down into the Great Hall. After all this expended energy, it was time for lunch.  Near to the Tudor stables where the tearoom is situated there are the ruins of the chapel. These make great stepping stones for the children. 

Kenilworth Castle Sept 2021
Warwickshire Bear
Kenilworth Castle Sept 2021
Leicester’s building

After lunch it was to Leicester’s building and English Heritage have constructed an internal staircase which allows you to climb to the top of the tower.  As we were looking out onto the adjacent fields, we saw a wedding party moving through the footpath.  This is where I would love to have the telephoto lens attachment. It was great to see a local celebration happening around the castle.

Kenilworth Castle Sept 2021
View of the Castle

The pictures show the fun that we had at the castle and with the grandchildren growing up it is so much more enjoyable visiting such places. You can compare this to my last blog about the castle in 2019. We loved it so much that we joined English Heritage and now have them alongside the National Trust for places to visit.

Kenilworth Castle Sept 2021
The gardens with Leicester’s Gatehouse in the background
Kenilworth Castle Sept 2021
Statue in the Gardens
Kenilworth Castle Sept 2021
Light on the bricks
Kenilworth Castle Sept 2021
Wedding party at the walls of the Castle

It is a while since we visited Kenilworth Castle. Taking a chance on the weather we went for a visit. It was a windy day and the grandchildren are good to start with but then got fractious. So as an amateur photographer you have to adapt to the conditions and the emotions of the day. I got some good pictures of the family running around the castle grounds before they went in for a coffee. It gave me the chance to explore the new attraction at the castle, Leicester’s Tower. English Heritage have built a staircase and viewing platforms on each floor in the tower. They platforms provide excellent views of the castle and the surrounding Warwickshire countryside. I will return when the weather improves and linger for more shots in the Elizabethan garden and the grounds.

Framing of Leicester’s Gatehouse
View from Leicester’s Tower
The fun of running in the Elizabethan Garden
Run, Lily, Run
Family portrait
A cheeky picture to end