The northern one was known as the Lesser Mill, and the southern one as the (Oster)Linder Mill.

From 1770 onward, the mills were owned by the Berking family of Salder for over 100 years until they were sold in 1888 to miller Heinrich Söchtig of Lesse. Fifty-three years later, the firm Blume & Oppermann became the new owner of the mill and continued mill operations until the 1950s.

With support from the city and state, the mill was restored in 1964—but a hurricane in 1972 brought mill operations to a definitive end. After it was decommissioned and purchased by Ernst Froböse, who donated it to the city of Salzgitter in 1978, it was on display at the Industrial Fair in Hanover in 1984. Today, it can be viewed on the grounds of the Salder Castle Municipal Museum.

The 50-metric-ton post mill is 4.70 meters wide, 5 meters high, and, with a blade length of 9.75 meters, has a sail area of 9.80 square meters. Each of the 1.40-meter-wide millstones weighs more than 800 kilograms. The mill rests on a trestle frame that stands on a foundation of stone blocks. The entire millhouse can be rotated using the “Sterts,” a curved beam, so that the wind strikes the canvas-covered sails at a right angle.

For demonstration purposes, the sails are now powered by an electric motor.

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Current Notice (as of July 16, 2026):

Since the staff at the Salder Castle Municipal Museum are committed to the safety of museum visitors, the historic Osterlinder post mill is currently closed until further notice. It requires a structural inspection and interior repairs.