Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Parking Lot Shoeprints
Dewey Square Pylon & Bent 38
Black Rocks of Pungo Andongo
Abandoned Observatory of the Pioneer Palace
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Two suitcases in an empty airport hall.
AO Mailbag: Is It Normal to Share a Checked Bag With Your Boyfriend?
2 days ago
Kolaches
How Texas Became an Unlikely Epicenter for Czech Pastries
3 days ago
What I Found Driving Across Northern Michigan
3 days ago
What I Found Driving Down Highway 61
3 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England Surrey Reigate Heath Windmill
AO Edited

Reigate Heath Windmill

The world's first consecrated windmill.

Surrey, England

Added By
AdOYo
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
St Cross Chapel at the Mill   Richard Rogerson
St Cross Chapel at the Mill   Richard Rogerson
Plaque on building   Gavin / Atlas Obscura User
entrance to church   Gavin / Atlas Obscura User
Golf course clubroom with windmill blades in background   Gavin / Atlas Obscura User
St Cross Chapel at the Mill   Ian Capper
St Cross Chapel at the Mill   Stephen Craven
interior of church, Sep 2022   Gavin / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Reigate Heath Windmill is unlike any other. In 1880 it became St Cross Chapel, believed to be the world's first consecrated windmill. The chapel, now known as Reigate Mill Church, serves the local St Mary’s Parish Church.

Built on the site of an earlier windmill, Reigate Heath Windmill began its life in 1765 and remained in use for almost 100 years until 1862. Eighteen years later, having been acquired by the Anglican Church, the mill was restored, converted, and consecrated.

Within four years, the chapel hosted its first wedding and to this day remains in frequent use, with once monthly services during the summer and yearly Christmas carol services.

Related Tags

Architecture Churches Windmills

Know Before You Go

There are car parks around the windmill, which is in the middle of a busy golf course.

The key to the quirky church within can be obtained from the bar opposite.

Community Contributors

Added By

AdOYo

Edited By

jooniur, Gavin

  • jooniur
  • Gavin

Published

August 23, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Reigate Heath Windmill
Surrey, England
United Kingdom
51.239894, -0.222197

Nearby Places

Reigate Tunnel

Surrey, England

miles away

Emily Wilding Davison Memorial

Epsom, England

miles away

Ladder of Salvation of the Human Soul

Chaldon, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Surrey

Surrey

England

Places 2
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Reigate Tunnel

Surrey, England

miles away

Emily Wilding Davison Memorial

Epsom, England

miles away

Ladder of Salvation of the Human Soul

Chaldon, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Surrey

Surrey

England

Places 2
Stories 1

Related Places

  • The Cathedral Café has been serving it’s community for more than 120 years.

    Fayetteville, West Virginia

    Cathedral Café

    Soak in the sacred vibes at this beloved food and coffee hangout inside a former church.

    Sponsored by West Virginia Department of Tourism
  • Mexico City, Mexico

    Rectoría del Señor de La Humildad (Manzanares Chapel)

    Mexico City’s smallest church, designed as a miniature cathedral and visited mainly by robbers and prostitutes.

  • Santos, Brazil

    Basílica Menor de Santo Antônio do Embaré

    A neo-Gothic church just steps away from the beach.

  • Front of Holy Family Log Church.

    Cahokia Heights, Illinois

    Holy Family Log Church

    One of the last remaining French Colonial style churches, this centuries-old building was constructed using upright logs and no nails.

  • Velha Goa, India

    Church and Convent of St. Francis of Assisi

    This church in Old Goa was established by eight Portuguese Franciscan friars who landed there in 1517.

  • Québec City, Québec

    Maison de la Littérature

    A former church transformed into a public library.

  • The Ta’ Kola Windmill.

    Xagħra, Malta

    Ta' Kola Windmill

    This is one of the very few intact windmills built by the Knights of St. John in the island nation of Malta.

  • Iglesia El Rosario

    San Salvador, El Salvador

    Iglesia El Rosario

    Padre Delgado, a leader in the fight for Salvadoran independence, is buried in this stunning Brutalist cathedral.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.