Biography

Derek Ogden was born in England in c1933. He obtained a degree in mechanical and electrical engineering and completed an apprenticed with the General Electric Company and specialised in Power Station construction and design.

Between 1951 and 1954 Derek served in the British Army, Royal Engineers. During this time he held a position as lecturer in engineering at the School of Military Engineering in Chatham.

Derek developed an interest in mills from 1946. In 1949 he became life member of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings and later served on their Wind and Watermills Committee for about eight years. Derek undertook the first restoration of a windmill in 1950 as a hobby, by 1963 he had become a professional millwright.

Derek served as the official S.P.A.B. millwright for about eight years and advised on numerous mill related problems to them and owners. He was a member of the Newcomen Society for the study of the History of Engineering and Technology since 1963. Founding member of The International Molinological Society (T.I.M.S.) in 1965 and currently a Member of Council since 1997. Organized the International Symposium on Molinology 2000 at Stratford Hall, Virginia for T.I.M.S.

Derek undertook many projects in the British Isles for H.M. Government, County Councils and private mill owners. The most prestigious were Chesterton windmill in Warwickshire, a Grade I Ancient building, the French Tide Mill, Carew, Wales and Sarehole Watermill in Birmingham. He received many awards for work his work as a millwright in Great Britain, including the “Windmill Certificate” from Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, the “Prince of Wales Award” and the “European Architectural Heritage Year Award” for work on Chesterton windmill .

Derek moved to the United States of America in 1975 to build a full size, mid eighteenth century, working English Post windmill at Flowerdew Hundred Plantation, Virginia. A second, nineteenth century Post windmill was also built near Manteo, North Carolina. Since then, he has repaired and advised upon dozens of windmills and watermills in the United States for the Federal Government, State Governments, County Governments, Local Preservation Societies and private owners.

Derek is a lectured in Europe and the United States on mill preservation and has held many workshops giving advice on practical repairs to historic windmills and watermills. He has written numerous articles and papers on mill preservation for many organizations in Europe and the United States of America.