Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Richard windmill, located in Bazoches-en-Dunois, is a traditional wooden pivot mill, emblematic of the Beauce and the Bassin Parisien. Built in the 18th century, it rests on an apparent base, with a pivot supported by false feet placed on batteries. This system stabilizes the structure during the installation of the wings, equipped in the 19th century with the Berton mechanism, a semi-automatic flap opening device.

The wings of the mill are made up of moving planks, allowing to adjust the surface exposed to the wind as needed. The mill cage is covered with chestnut straps on each side, while lateral openings and an orientable tail facilitate its alignment with the wind direction. An external staircase gives access to the floor, where are the internal mechanisms.

Ranked Historic Monument by order of 4 July 1988, the Richard Mill includes in its protection its original mechanism. The site is located precisely at 109 Le Moulin Saint-Martin, in the commune of Bazoches-en-Dunois (Eure-et-Loir), in the Centre-Val de Loire region. Its architecture reflects traditional milling techniques, adapted to local climatic conditions and agricultural needs.

The Berton system, added in the 19th century, marked a major technical development for windmills of the time. This mechanism improves energy efficiency by optimizing the angle of the wings facing the wind, reducing the manual effort required to adjust their orientation. This type of innovation illustrates the ingenuity of local millers and artisans in adapting existing infrastructure.

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