Stanton's Windmill
By Sandra Ford and Jean Heald
We have discovered that Stanton had a windmill dating from the thirteenth century.
The Clifton family, being descendants of William Peverel, held onto and increased his land.
The Clifton family, In the first (CL D334), dated post 1286, Cecilia, widow of Lord Peter de Raleye, gives a grant of a plot 24 feet by 24 feet to make a windmill at a place called RieIandis to William de Bredon so that her serfs can grind their corn at their local mill in the same way as serfs do in Plumtree and Widmerpool. In the second (CL D337), dated 1308. William, son of William de Bredon, grants a windmill and right of way to Nicholas son of Nicholas de Wydmerpoll.
Some witnesses to the documents came from Keyworth. The full translated texts are reproduced below.
“To all faithful Christians who see or hear this present writing, Cecilia widow of Lord Peter de Raleye, greetings in the everlasting Lord. Know that I have given, granted and by this my present writing confirmed to William de Bredon and his heirs or assigns and of 24 feet in length and 24 feet in width in Stanton on the Wolds to make himself a windmill in a certain place called Rielandis. I have also given and granted to the said William and his heirs or his assigns the suit of all my tenants, both of my villeins and of my cottagers to grind their corn at the mill of the said William just as the serfs of the Lord of Plumtree or the serfs of the Lord of Widmerpool grind at the mills of their lords, and in the same measures [?]”.
“To have and to hold the said plot together with the suit of my said tenants to him and his heirs or his assigns from the chief lord of the fee forever and I the said Cecilia and my heirs, the aforesaid plot to the said William and his heirs or his assigns against all men will warrant and defend forever. In witness whereof to this present writing I have affixed my seal. These being witness: William Plungun of Stanton, Richard son of Walter of the same place, Thomas his brother, William of Rempstone, John Poitrel [?], of Botis[Iford?], John Jake of Keyworth, Gervase son of Isabel of the same place. and others.”
“To all faithful Christians who see or hear this present charter, William son of William de Bredon, greetings in the Lord. Know that I have given, granted and by this my present charter confirm to Nicholas, son of Nicholas de Wydmerpoll, my windmill in Stanton on the Wolds, together with service and suit of the same mill and with free entry and exit to [and from] the same mill.”
“To hold and to have to the said Nicholas, his heirs and assigns from the chief lord of the fee by the services thence due and customary. And I the said William and my heirs all the aforesaid [premises] to the said Nicholas, his heirs and assigns against all men wiIl warrant. In witness whereof to the present charter I have affixed my seal. These being witnesses: Thomas de Monteny, John de Montenv, Richard de Benton, John Bozon, Symon of Sibthorp, John de Lymar, William Plungun, John of Keyworth, Gervase brother of Keleyn [KeIoyn?], John Gilion of Widmerpool, Thomas Gerveys of the same place, Robert de Derley and many others. Given at Stanton, Sunday next before the feast of St Andrew the Apostle, the second year of King Edward son of King Edward.”
We regret that we have not been able to identify the location of Rielandis. It is tempting to suggest that it could be the high point site of the radio station and communication towers to the south of the Church. We have not found any other reference to the windmill so do not know how long it lasted.