Tilting at windmills Don Quixote fights windmills that he imagines are giants. A relevant portion of the novel states: Cervantes wrote "Don Quixote" in two parts, published respectively in 1605 and 1615, during the latter part of a historical period known as the Spanish Golden Age. During this age, Spain pursued military conquests in parts of Europe and conquered large parts of the Americas, which brought great riches to the country and inspired a flowering of the arts. In La Mancha, Castilla, Cervantes' setting for the novel, there still exist some examples of the era's windmills that Don Quixote found in his adventures.
Portland Windmills and the Hutchins map of 1710, where they were depicted as prominent landmarks. It is believed that the two windmills are two of the earliest of their type in the United Kingdom and were probably built by local craftsmen. The mills, which were traditionally operated by the Pearce family, ceased use in the 1890s as mass-produced flour and bread became available through Portland's modern rail and road links. During World War II, the south tower was used as a look-out post. The same tower was renovated by ARC Ltd in 1991. In 2000, some care was given to the windmills