Ten year tilt at a windmill

WINDMILLS are not common in this area of France but photographer Didier Veysset has one in his back garden.

Restored by his grandfather over ten years the windmill is now a cosy summer hideaway when friends visit.
It is about two hundred years old and was used to mill the flour for the bakery down the hill, which supplied the chateau at the top.
Didier explained the work his grandfather did: “He worked the land and when he retired he wanted something to do, so he decided to renovate the windmill.
“The roof had fallen in so he started with that and then rebuilt the floors, repaired the brickwork and re-laid the tile floor.”
The windmill is set on a small hillock and on the ground floor is a lounge area with an open fire.
A narrow wooden staircase leads to a kitchen and dining area with some deep blue and white tiles around the sink.
And finally up some more steps is the bedroom with its high ceiling featuring some of the old wooden cogs and the underside of the tiled roof.
The only problem is that there is no bathroom, but ever-resourceful Didier’s grandfather constructed one in a small outbuilding a few meters behind the windmill.
It is advised that you take a torch if you need a ‘comfort break’ in the night.
To see a collection of photographs, click here.