Mill destruction 1794 (≈ 1794)
Destroyed during a cloudy period (probably Revolution).
Vers 1850
Innovation of board wings
Innovation of board wings Vers 1850 (≈ 1850)
Replacement of canvases with adjustable boards.
Années 1860
Upgrading of the tower
Upgrading of the tower Années 1860 (≈ 1860)
Modification for better wind intake.
Début du XIXe siècle
Reconstruction of the mill
Reconstruction of the mill Début du XIXe siècle (≈ 1904)
Rebuilt after its destruction in 1794.
10 juin 1975
Registration for historical monuments
Registration for historical monuments 10 juin 1975 (≈ 1975)
Official protection of the building.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Windmill of Gué-Robert (cad. A 576) : inscription by order of 10 June 1975
Key figures
Pierre Théophile Berton - Engineer and inventor
Modernized the wings of the mill (adjustable boards).
Origin and history
The Gué-Robert windmill is a cavier-style building, characterized by a conical masonry tower surmounted by a mobile wooden hicherolle. This system allowed the wings to be directed in the direction of the wind via an external ladder. Originally, the wings were covered with manually adjustable canvases by the miller, before being replaced in the middle of the 19th century by boards adjustable by a rod mechanism, optimizing their efficiency.
Destroyed in 1794, probably during the French Revolution, the mill was rebuilt in the early 19th century. Around 1860, his tower (mask) was enhanced to capture more wind, thanks to the innovation of Pierre Théophile Berton, an engineer from Angers. The latter replaced traditional canvas wings with board wings, significantly improving the mill's performance. The building was finally protected in 1975 by an inscription as historical monuments.
The mill illustrates the technological evolution of windmills in Anjou, moving from an artisanal system (toiles) to a more precise mechanics (adjustable boards). Its typical architecture, with embankment housing a cellar and swivel hicherolle, makes it a rare testimony of this rural industrial heritage. Today, it remains a symbol of milling know-how and technical adaptations related to renewable energies before the industrial era.
