Listed Building record MDR10064 - Tower House, Porters Lane, Findern

Tower House, Porters Lane, Findern, a late 18th century building. 'West of Findern village is a brick tower mill, now converted into part of a dwelling.' (1) 'At the top of a narrow lane on the west side of the village of Findern is the tower of a brick windmill, built between 1781 and 1825, now converted into residential accommodation. It is rendered and capped with a tile capping.' (2) 'This tower windmill is to the north-west of the village of Findern. It is not clear when the mill was built. It is not shown on Burdett's map of Derbyshire in 1767, nor is it listed by Farey in 1808, despite an advertisement in the Derby Mercury of October 5 1797 offering it for sale as follows: "To be sold by Auction - A smock mill at Findern, one pair of French stones, one pair of grey stones, dressing machine etc. Enquire of Mr Thomas Lovatt of Findern". It was again offered for sale in 1814, being described as "a substantial Wind corn mill". The mill is shown on both Greenwood's map of 1825 and the 1st ed. OS map in 1836. The mill appears to have been working at the time of the OS map of 1887 but after this is described as 'old windmill'. The mill features in a painting by Karl Wood made in 1932 which shows it looking much as it does at present when viewed from the north. No illustration of the mill with sails has been found. It was one of the first mills in the county to become a house conversion, probably about the turn of the century. The cap was removed, a conical slate roof installed and a two-storey house built up to the mill structure. For some years, up until 1998, it was the home of the then Member of Parliament for South Derbyshire, Mrs Edwina Currie.' (3) From the National Heritage List for England: 'PARISH OF FINDERN PORTER'S LANE SK 33 SW 1/32 2.9.52 Tower House (formerly Listed as Old Tower House) II Windmill converted and extended into a house. Late C18 and C19, with C20 additions. Rendered brick with plain tile roof and a lateral brick stack. Octagonal roof to mill. Two storeys and the three storey mill at the east side. The mill is circular in plan and tapers. The south elevation has to the mill, two C20 small pane casements to the ground floor, two similar above and one similar above again. To the left are two more similar windows and a doorway with half glazed door and overlight. Three similar windows above. All the windows have slightly segmental heads. Single storey C20 range to west and C20 garage to east, not of special interest North side has a C20 extension not of special interest. The mill has a C19 2-light casement to north and a small square window to east. Listing NGR: SK3027630725.' (4)