Ashton Windmill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ashton windmill |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Tower mill |
| Town or city | Chapel Allerton, Somerset |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°14′56″N 2°50′24″W / 51.248828°N 2.840119°W |
Ashton Windmill is a cool old tower mill located in Chapel Allerton, Somerset, England. It's a really tall building, standing over 7.5 meters (about 25 feet) high! Its stone walls are super thick, about 60 centimeters (2 feet) wide. The giant sails stretch 13 meters (43 feet) across. These sails used to be covered with canvas. Inside, the mill had big stones, 1.2 meters (4 feet) wide, that ground wheat into flour. They also ground beans to feed cattle.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The very first mill on this spot was from the Middle Ages. That's a long, long time ago! But the windmill you see today was probably built in the 1700s.
Modern Updates
The mill got some important updates in 1900. New machinery was brought in from another mill that was taken down. Iron hoops were also added around the building. These hoops helped make the structure stronger.
Saving the Windmill
In 1967, the windmill was restored. This means it was fixed up to look good and work well again. English Heritage has given it a special status. It's called a grade II* listed building. This means it's a very important historic place.
Who Takes Care of It Now?
Ashton Windmill is now preserved so everyone can enjoy it. In 1966, it was given to the Bristol City Museum. Today, Sedgemoor District Council owns it. Volunteers work hard to keep it in good shape.
Plans for the Future
In 2008, the council wanted to do some major restoration work. They planned to replace stone steps and add safety rails. They also wanted to change the window shutters. The sail frames were going to be replaced with wood laminate.
In 2010, Sedgemoor Council found it hard to pay for the windmill's upkeep. They asked for an independent group to help take care of the building. This shows how much effort it takes to preserve historic places like Ashton Windmill!
