Iconic Windmill House for sale for first time

This week's featured home has two houses on nearly two acres of pristine land.

Posted 10/23/16

The iconic Windmill House property in Little Compton is being offered for sale for the first time in its 130-year history. Set on 1.18 acres, the property overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and is …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


Iconic Windmill House for sale for first time

This week's featured home has two houses on nearly two acres of pristine land.

Posted

The iconic Windmill House property in Little Compton is being offered for sale for the first time in its 130-year history. Set on 1.18 acres, the property overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and is surrounded by 150 acres of protected farmland. An idyllic three-season, family compound with two houses is teaming with history, pristine surroundings and period details.

Designed by one of the state's most prominent architects of the time, Stone, Carpenter and Willson, the Windmill House, also known as the Slicer house (the family that resided there), was built in 1886 and is famous for its one-of-a-kind architectural integration of an actual once-functioning windmill. 

The five-bedroom, shingled house sweeps around the windmill that appears as an octagonal turret. The Narragansett mill stones, which formerly ground the corn in the mill, have been cut into halves to make steps for each of the main entries.

In keeping with the architectural themes of the times, the house is both functional and picturesque, with porches and interconnected dining and sitting rooms that take in the spectacular pastoral and ocean views. Two fire places are wonderful gathering places in the fall and spring seasons.

Sydney Burleigh, a renowned American artist and Little Compton native was a close friend of the Slicer family, provided his professional services to the home. In the interior of the Mill House he incorporated Bas-relief sculptures, inscriptions and terra cotta washes to many of the home’s plaster walls.

Exposed oak beams combine with the painted plaster walls, lending a strong sense of artistic history and architectural detail.

The Mill House second floor features a sun-drenched en suite master bedroom, as well as three additional bedrooms and a bathroom. The third floor features the tower bedroom, perched at the top of the mill, with 180-degree views out to the Atlantic Ocean and across the Sakonnet passage to Aquidneck island, where a breathtaking view can be seen of the Newport mansions glittering at night.

The sun porch on the west side of the house is perfect for curling up and reading a book or just gazing out and watching the cows graze. Rinse off after a day at the beach in the Walpole Woodworkers outdoor shower, tucked away on the northwest side of the house.

The five-bedroom “Dinghy” house was originally built in 1933 for the family's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. With 1,600 square feet of sunny living space, complete with a fireplace and an outdoor shower, the house is a classic summer cottage. It has two bathrooms.

The Windmill House property is centrally located near Little Compton beaches, Sakonnet Point with a harbor club and yacht club, local farm stands, and the Little Compton Commons.

East Bay real estate, East Bay house of the week

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.