A New Spin for a Much-Loved Miniature
Nestled near the real Bourn Windmill, a charming minature Bourn Windmill replica now stands proudly once again, thanks to the expert hands of the Cambourne Shed group, Andrew Young, Tung Hau, Chris Smith, John Panrucker, Robert Thompson, and Greg Thompson who runs the shed.
After falling into disrepair, the miniature windmill has been lovingly restored and returned to its full former glory – just in time to delight visitors at our summer season of Open Days.
Greg Thompson from Cambourne Shed & Allan Scott Davies from Cambridge Past, Present & Future
This working model has a remarkable backstory. Built in the late 1940s by windmill enthusiast Michael Dunn in the basement of his Bristol home, it’s a hand-crafted homage to Bourn Windmill itself. Ingeniously, the original cladding slats were repurposed from venetian blinds in the family home—an early example of creative upcycling.
Michael’s fascination with windmills spanned decades. He photographed mills across the country between the 1930s and 1970s, leaving behind hundreds of images, now preserved as The Michael Dunn Collection in the SPAB Mills Archive. Though it’s not known why he chose Bourn Mill as his inspiration, his children—John, Suzie, Margaret, Helen and Jennifer—are thrilled that their father’s legacy lives on at the very site he modelled.
After a gale toppled the replica in the 1960s, damaging its sails, it passed through several family homes and brief periods of repair. A highlight came in 2013 when John Dunn brought the model to a Bourn Windmill open day and filmed both the replica and the real windmill turning in tandem. (You can still find the video on YouTube.)
Fast forward to 2024, and the replica had weathered many years of use and storage. That’s when Kate Armstrong, Co-Chair of the Bourn Windmill Volunteer Team, reached out to Cambourne Shed—a local group providing practical projects and camaraderie to support men’s mental health. Rising to the challenge, their members began restoration work in October 2024.
Their meticulous work included stripping off the old gloss paint, sanding down surfaces, and repainting with care. They rebuilt the ladder and handrail, replaced missing or damaged cladding slats (using more of Michael Dunn’s original blinds!), repaired framing, and completely reconstructed the shutter sail structure. New bolts, a new crank handle, and even a new matching window shutter were added. Every detail was considered, every element crafted with precision and pride.
The result? A beautifully restored, fully working model that now welcomes visitors once more – charming young and old alike with its craftsmanship and story.
We’re deeply grateful to Cambourne Shed for their dedication and skill, and to Michael Dunn’s family for sharing this piece of history. As his daughter Jennifer said, “We are very pleased that it has been accepted as part of the museum there and are delighted that it has now been restored by the local Shed. We are very grateful to all concerned.”
Come and see the replica for yourself on your next visit to Bourn Windmill- and watch a family legacy, a community’s care, and a model’s sails all come full circle.
2025 Open Day Dates for your diary:
Sun 15 June | 2 – 4.30pm | Members free | Adults £4, Children £1
Sun 13 July | 2 – 4.30pm | Members free | Adults £4, Children £1
Sun 17 August | 2 – 4.30pm | Members free | Adults £4, Children £1
Sun 14 September | 2 – 4.30pm | Members free | Adults £4, Children £1
Learn more about Bourn Windmill HERE
On behalf of Cambourne Shed and and Cambridge Past, Present & Future, we’d like to thank Kate Armstrong, Co-Chair of the Bourn Volunteer team, for initiating this wonderful project.
