Vicente Casero Flores
TELEPHONE:
ADDRESS:
Calle Concepción 26, 13610 Campo de Criptana
ACTIVITY
Vicente has worked in traditional carpentry since the 90s, specialising in the restoration and building of windmills. He took this career path on noticing the complete disrepair of the windmills of La Mancha, iconic of the region. Further to the mills’ derelict state, the last… local master windmill builders had died decades before without leaving successors.
Through the Molinos de Viento (Windmills) trade school in Campo de Criptana, in 1998 Vicente set out to make a detailed study of all the machinery of one of the area’s nine extant 16th-century windmills, culminating with its return to service after more than 50 years’ inactivity.
In windmill restoration it is vital to have a thorough knowledge of traditional carpentry techniques as well as a grasp of the history of windmills and milling machinery. And Vicente’s workshop also undertakes other traditional carpentry and restoration work.
Vicente has also been able to build a new windmill in Villarobledo, with all of its grinding machinery in full working order.
TRAINING
He was trained at the El Pósito trade school in Campo de Criptana, which received the Europa Nostra Award for restoration in 1996. He also learned a large part of his craft from the master woodworker Francisco Torres Simón.
TEACHING
He worked as a windmill carpentry instructor at the Molinos de Viento trade school in Campo de Criptana in 1998 with pupils including Juan Bautista Sánchez, who later became his partner. The courses he has given over the years notably include:
– “Windmill restoration” work experience… programme, 1999
– Woodcraft instruction at the adult education centre in Campo de Criptana, 1999-2003
– Marquetry and inlay course for the town hall of Socuéllamos, since 2017
– Teaching of woodcraft in a hymnal restoration course given at Tavera Hospital (Toledo) by Fundación Casa Ducal de Medinaceli, 2019
SELECTED WORK
– Complete windmill with grinding machinery built in the estate of La Jaraba in Villarobledo
– Complete restoration of the windmill known as “Pechuga” at El Romeral, with original 17th-century machinery and a newly built sifting mechanism
– Complete restoration of the windmill known as “La Unión”… at Camuñas, with original 17th-century machinery
– Building and fitting of replica milling machinery for a traditional windmill at Museo del Quijote in Ciudad Real
– Complete restoration of the “Tío Zacarías” windmill at Los Yébenes
– Complete restoration of the windmill at Ojos Negros (Teruel province)
– Restoration of woodwork in the Chapter House at Toledo Cathedral
