Photographs of Essex Post Mills
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With a post mill, the sails are built into the wooden body which houses the machinery. The whole mill body is pivoted on a massive wooden post, allowing the body and hence the sails to be turned to face the wind. The body is turned either by using a long lever called a tailpole or else by a fantail. A fantail is a system of gearing driven by a fan mounted at the rear of the mill which acts rather like a wind vane and automatically keeps the mill facing to wind.
Bocking Post Mill built in 1721 and moved in 1830
Duck End Mill, Finchingfield dates from about 1756
Mountnessing Mill was built in 1807 and is in working order
