Kibworth Harcourt Mill is a historic windmill located in the village of Kibworth Harcourt, Leicestershire, England. It is notable for being the only surviving post mill in the county and is designated as a Grade II* listed building, a classification reserved for particularly important buildings of more than special interest.
The mill is situated on land that has been owned by Merton College, Oxford, since 1270. While historical records indicate the presence of earlier mills on the site, the current structure dates to the early 18th century. Internal inscriptions suggest the mill was constructed around 1711.
In terms of design, the structure is a post mill, a type of windmill where the entire timber-framed body (the "buck") rotates on a central vertical post to allow the sails to face the wind. The post is supported by a substructure of crosstrees and quarterbars, which are enclosed within a brick roundhouse. This roundhouse was added in the 19th century to protect the timber supports and provide storage space.
The mill ceased commercial operations in 1912. In 1936, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) took over the maintenance of the structure through a 99-year lease from Merton College. Throughout the 20th century, the mill underwent various repairs to prevent collapse, though it remained largely non-functional for decades.
Between 2020 and 2022, the mill underwent a comprehensive restoration project funded by a legacy left to the SPAB. This restoration included the repair of the timber frame, the installation of new sails, and the restoration of the internal machinery. The project successfully returned the mill to full working order, allowing it to grind grain for the first time in over a century.