Listed Building

The only legal part of the listing under the Planning (Listing Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 is the address/name of site. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing – see 'About Listed Buildings' below for more information. The further details below the 'Address/Name of Site' are provided for information purposes only.

Address/Name of Site

TO NORTH OF HELZIE, WINDMILL STUMPLB47995

Status: Designated

Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Category
C
Date Added
30/03/2001
Local Authority
Orkney Islands
Planning Authority
Orkney Islands
Parish
Westray
NGR
HY 50698 40629
Coordinates
350698, 1040629

Description

Early-earlier 19th century. Circular-plan; tapered; solid rubble tower; 3m high. Turret post mill stump. 3.3m in diameter at ground; 2.4m in diameter at apex. Central post and substructure (sail house) missing.

Statement of Special Interest

A well preserved windmill stump. Peculiar to Orkney only a few turret post mills remain. Orkney has a greater preponderance of exposed windy sites than watercourses and by the end of the 18th century windmills for grinding grain were becoming relatively common (there was one on Westray in the 1790's). The windmill to the N of Helzie is shown on the 1/2500 OS map of 1881. Its location is close to the Bu (signifying principal/original farm) of Rapness, which is just to the NW.

References

Bibliography

1st Edition County Series OS MAP, 1/2500 (1881); Alexander Fenton, THE NORTHERN ISLES: ORKNEY AND SHETLAND (1978) pp399 & 409; G Douglas, M Oglethorpe and J R Hume, SCOTTISH WINDMILLS - A SURVEY (Scottish Industrial Archaeology Survey, 1990) p38.

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

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Printed: 15/06/2026 22:00