Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Regost Mill, located in Looberghe in the Hauts-de-France, is an iconic 18th-century building, although this dating remains uncertain. This windmill, now devoid of its wings, was initially dedicated to drying up land. Its structure is distinguished by an octagonal wooden tower, resting on a masonry base, while only the head was swivelling. The entire wood section and the roof were covered with dentures, a traditional split wood material.

Originally, the mill operated thanks to a d'Archimede screw, subsequently replaced by an electric pump. The latter allows to collect the waters of the lower channel to return them to the high channel, via a semicircular masonry gutter bypassing the building. The Regost mill, partially preserved, was included in the inventory of the Historical Monuments by order of 6 March 1979, specifically covering the "remnants of the mill" (Cadastre B 287).

The location of the mill, at approximately 9000 Route de Bergues à Looberghe (code Insee 59358), places this work in a rural and hydraulic context typical of Flanders. Its historic role in water management reflects the region's agricultural and environmental challenges, where canals and mills played a key role in wetland management. Today, although its original use has disappeared, the Regost mill shows technical ingenuity and the adaptation of local infrastructure to changing needs.

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