approximately , tall with a crenellated top, which was a later addition. Mentioned in the Birmingham Gazette, Highgate Windmill came up for sale by Edward Rigby in both 1826 and 1828. It is known that Thomas Jennings worked it from 1835 to 1841, and in 1841, the Midland Counties Herald shows it being advertised by local builder M. Salt with a shop and cottage. Shortly thereafter, it was purchased by Mr. Moses Eyland, founder of the Walsall firm of buckle and spectacle makers Eyland & Sons, Ltd, of Lower Rushall Street (that factory having been converted into apartments in recent years). His son Charles Eyland, Mayor of Walsall 1857 – 58, inherited the property, having left his house in Lichfield Street for Hope Cottage, which stood in its own grounds adjoining the mill. During the Eyland ownership, the mill was worked by James Griffiths, who lived in the cottage opposite the malthouse, and it seems to have fallen into disuse between 1864 and 1868. After this, Charles Eyland removed the mill machinery, including the two grindstones. Appreciating the views that could be obtained from the top storey of the tower, Mr. Eyland rebuilt, raised and furnished the top room, fitting a fireplace and laying a carpet. To aid his viewing he arranged a mirror on the camera obscura principle, so that the four compass directions could be seen in one glass. In 1890, Charles Eyland died, and the mill passed to Charles Newbold Eyland, who moved into Hope Cottage with his family. In around 1919, the tower was struck by lightning, knocking down a piece of the parapet. One evening, several men arrived claiming they had been asked to repair the roof. The men were allowed to work and stripped the roof of the lead and stole it. Deprived of its protective covering, the roof sprang a leak and the inside walls were marked, however the building remained stable. On the death of Charles Newbold Eyland in 1925, the mill was bought by George Skidmore of Sandwell Villa, Sandwell Street, a member of the firm of buckle makers of Windmill Street. At the time, Mr. Skidmore was famed for his record in playing cricket for more than sixty years. Mr. Skidmore, who had for many years been interested in astronomy, supervised the rebuilding of the tower, re-pointing the brickwork and raising the parapet by approximately and adding to the crenellations,