The building was erected with the permission of the Society of Merchant Venturers, as a windmill for corn in 1766 and later converted to the grinding of snuff, when it became known as the 'The Snuff Mill'. This was damaged by a fire on October 30th 1777, when the sails were left turning during a gale and caused the equipment to catch light. It was then derelict for 52 years until in 1828 William West, an artist, rented the old mill, for 5 shillings (25p) a year, as a studio.
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It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade II* listed building and is currently on the Buildings at Risk Register