Here, Robin Longbottom examines how one 19th-century entrepreneur harnessed wind power TODAY when we think of wind power, the many three-bladed wind turbines that have been springing-up across the countryside come to mind. It is now about 30 years since they first became a feature of our landscape and we assumed that wind power in our area was a very new and innovative development. However, it may come as a surprise that in the mid-1870s an enterprising joiner and cartwright turned organ builder, built a windmill at West Closes Farm in Glusburn to power his saws, woodturning lathes and drills.