The unique eight-sailed windmill at Heckington near Sleaford in Lincolnshire is the sole survivor of only seven of the type ever built in Britain. Heckington’s eight-sailed windmill owes its survival to John Pocklington (1865-1941) who combined the machinery from Skirbeck with the tower at Heckington in 1892. He kept the mill in working order even when it became obsolete and was commended by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings for his restoration of 1933. Kesteven County Council (later absorbed into Lincolnshire County Council) purchased the mill in 1953 and the building has been administered by the Friends of Heckington Mill since 1982.

Tony Pygott set up the six barrel brewery in the adjacent former grainstore in June 2010 and the first brew took place on 22nd June. Having built up a distribution network, 8 Sail Brewery cask and bottled-conditioned beers can be found in Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire and further afield.