Knowle Mill, better known today as Bembridge Windmill, is a Grade I listed preserved tower mill at Bembridge, Isle of Wight. It was built c. 1700. It was painted by Turner in 1795. The mill was working by wind until 1913, having only been used for grinding animal feed after 1897. The mill was restored in 1935 and again in 1959, the latter restoration being funded by public subscription. In 1962 the mill was taken over by the National Trust. It has been restored and is open to the public.
Bembridge Mill is a four-storey tower mill with a boat-shaped cap, which is winded by chain and wheel. It has four Common sails. The two pairs of millstones are driven underdrift.
Bembridge Windmill is open to the public between March and November, from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm daily. For more information please visit the National trust website.
References:The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.
In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians.