1793: James Nokes

James Nokes moved to Upminster from the nearby village of Stifford, taking the tenancy of Hunts Farm, where he was to live for the remainder of his long life. The farm, of 130 acres, was situated on the south side of Upminster on the Corbets Tey Road.

1800: The Old Chapel

James was one of three benefactors who lent money to build a nonconformist chapel in Upminster. Now known as "The Old Chapel," it still stands in St Mary's Lane, directly opposite the windmill. James' brother, William Nokes, took the tenancy of the 83-acre Bridge House Farm, including the land on which the windmill would be built.

1803: Construction of the windmill

James Nokes purchased the freehold of 23 acres of Bridge House Farm. Construction of the windmill, and three adjoining outbuildings, including a granary (to store grain) and a meal house (to store flour) took two years. A pair of small cottages were also built, to the north-west, to house workers.

The windmill was built with "common" sails, comprising wooden frames covered with canvas. As with a sailing boat, the sails were adjusted manually to take account of the wind speed. There were originally three pairs of millstones.

1811: The steam mill

A steam-powered corn mill was added, increasing productivity with two additional pairs of millstones and enabling milling on windless days. This introduction of steam power to an existing windmill was very early in the history of steam engines.

The engine had been manufactured by the world-famous firm of Boulton and Watt at their Soho factory in Solihull. It was supplied second-hand and may have been used to power a very early steam vessel, possibly a harbour dredger.

Around 1830: Modification of the sails

At some stage, one pair of the common sails were converted to spring sails, which had been invented by Scottish millwright, Andrew Meikle, in 1772. Sail-cloths were replaced by hinged shutters, like a venetian blind, controlled by a connecting bar and a spring on each sail. The springs were adjusted individually, according to the power of the wind, while the mill was at rest.

1837: Improvements to the property and a mortgage

James Nokes raised a mortgage of £4500, with the mill estate pledged as security. A large mill house was built around, together with pig courts, a hen house, a stable and a cart shed.

1838 to 1848: The mill estate passed to Thomas Nokes

James Nokes died on 29 January 1838. The mill estate passed to his son, Thomas, on condition that he indemnified his father's estate against the mortgage of £4500, which was subject to 5% annual interest. In 1844, Thomas Abraham began working as foreman at Upminster for Thomas Nokes, for 20 shillings (£1) a week, beginning a relationship between the Abraham family and the mill that lasted for 90 years.

1849: Bankruptcy

Thomas Nokes was declared bankrupt and Bridge House Farm was auctioned in four lots. Lot 3, which included the mill estate, was sold to Ambrose Colson for £2000. The auctioneer's catalogue provided a detailed description of the buildings.

1849 to !857: Ambrose Colson’s years

Ambrose Colson let the mill to Charles Welham, who employed Thomas Abraham as foreman for three years, though the pay was now only 18 shillings (90p) a week. A fourth pair of millstones was added and the sails were converted to Cubitt's patent type. The wooden shutters operated like venetian blinds and, unlike spring sails, could be adjusted without stopping the mill.

1858: James Wadeson

In 1858, Ambrose Colson sold the mill and land to James Wadeson who, a year later, sold around two acres to Thomas Abraham for £1100. This was approximately the size of the field today.

1859 to 1882: Thomas Abraham’s years

According to a later letter, Thomas Abraham took two to three years to restore the mill's fortunes "as Mr Welham had lost all the trade and we spent about £50 a year to get it in order and no trade."

In 1881, Thomas Abraham invited his grandson, Alfred James Abraham, to work at the mill, beginning another long relationship, lasting to the closure of the mill in 1935. Alfred later engraved something of his history in the woodwork.

Thomas died in 1882 and ownership passed to his second son, John Arkell Abraham, who had previously worked at the mill for Charles Welham.

Late 1880s: Development of the site and business

Following the coming of the railway to Upminster, the business was expanded in 1886 to include the provision of coal and coke. Several improvements were made to the site and buildings, though their precise sequencing has not been established. Coal pens and a shed, probably for the coal carts, were added and the original cottages were replaced by a new pair. New stabling and other ancillary areas were also added.

1899 to 1901: Storm damage and repairs

In 1899, Essex Weekly News reported: "On Friday evening, when the wind was blowing very strongly from the south, the massive cast iron shaft of 35 cwts, to which the sails were attached, suddenly snapped off at the neck, and the sails came down with a terrific crash, carrying away some 40 to 50 feet of the stage." Repairs were uneconomic, but the loss of the mill was felt deeply by Upminster residents, who raised over £100 towards the cost of repairs. The business paid the rest "which came over £250." A second-hand windshaft was obtained from a post mill near Maldon.

1912: The Abraham brothers

John Arkell Abraham died on 22 July 1912. He was a bachelor and had lived his later years in two rooms at the mill house, letting the remainder for rent and services. The business passed to three of his nephews, Thomas, Alfred and Clement, who became the third generation of Abrahams to own the mill. A fourth brother owned a Baker's shop in Station Road.

1914 to 1920s: Decline of traditional milling

The large-scale industrialisation of milling, combined with public health measures, led to a decline in traditional milling. Upminster switched to milling products for dog biscuits, though business was sufficient to fund the purchase of new sails in 1927.

1935: Closure of the business

The brothers continued to run the milling business until Clement Abraham died in 1935. Thomas Abraham wrote "The old mill is in good preservation, we used it two years ago. It could go now as well as ever. We are getting too old to work her. My brother died and now we have to sell it to pay his share."

The mill was sold at auction. The purchaser, William Simmons, planned to develop the site, building a short road and some housing. On the day of the auction, Simmons referred to the windmill as a dear old landmark that he was not going to pull down. The coal business was sold at the same time, though it continued trading under the Abraham name.

1937 to 1945: Prevention of demolition and the war years

In 1937, urged by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), Essex County Council made an order, the effect of which was to prevent the demolition of the windmill, though not the steam mill or other buildings. Then, in 1939, Simmons agreed to sell the windmill and a small area of land (just 420 square yards) to the Council. He died shortly afterwards though the sale was completed by his executors in 1940. The Council had the right to remove the steam engine, which they did. Due to the war, the planned development did not take place. The field was used for allotments and the mill and buildings became derelict.

1945 to 1952: Hector Stone

In 1945, a retired Suffolk millwright, Hector Stone, was allowed, at his own expense, to make modifications to the mill so as to meet legal requirements to make and sell flour. His aim was to secure a lease and resume a milling business. He was there until his death in 1952, modifying much of the machinery but failing to secure either a licence to mill flour or a lease. The design and layout of the mill's internal machinery still reflects Hector's changes.

1948 to 1953: Windmill Committee

Following a public meeting in 1948, a volunteer Windmill Committee was formed and donations were raised to preserve and maintain the windmill. The committee had overall responsibility for the mill but Hector Stone was allowed to continue his work. Volunteers were recruited and many repairs were undertaken, including some by contractors. It is not known what brought the Committee's work to an end. Regrettably, the committee took the decision to scrap the steam engine.

1950s and 1960s: Listing, purchase of the land and partial restoration

In 1955, the windmill was listed as Grade 2* on the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. Then, in 1960, with the site still undeveloped, Essex County Council purchased the rest of the field as it is today, undertaking work to make the windmill safe and improve its appearance. The ancillary buildings, including the mill house and the steam mill, had become derelict and were demolished.

1965 to 2015: Holding repairs

In 1965, following the Greater London boundary changes, ownership transferred to the London Borough of Havering. Two years later, regular public opening began, ceasing only when the mill was closed for restoration in 2015. In the intervening years, a number of holding repairs were undertaken, though it was recognised that the fabric of the mill was deteriorating and that a major restoration programme was required. Funding was obtained in 2014 and work began the following year.