Blennerville Windmill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Blennerville Windmill
Blennerville Windmill
Origin
Mill location	Blennerville, County Kerry
Coordinates	52°15′24″N 9°44′15″W / 52.2567°N 9.7374°W / 52.2567; -9.7374
Year built	1800
Information
Purpose	Corn mill
Type	Tower mill
Storeys	Five storeys
No. of sails	Four
Type of sails	Common sails

The Blennerville Windmill is a tall, stone windmill located in Blennerville, County Kerry, Ireland. It stands about 21 meters (70 feet) high. This amazing mill has five levels inside, including a ground floor, a grinding floor, and a top cap floor. It's a famous landmark and a great place to learn about history.

History of Blennerville Windmill

Building the Mill

The Blennerville Windmill was built in the year 1800. It was ordered by Sir Rowland Blennerhassett. This mill was very important for grinding grain. It helped local people and also prepared grain to be sent to Great Britain.

How the Mill Worked

The mill had two sets of grinding stones. These special stones were made from French "bir" stone. A large wheel with wooden teeth turned a smaller gear. This gear then spun the grinding stones, crushing the grain into flour.

Why the Mill Stopped Working

Towards the end of the 1800s, the windmill started to fall apart. This happened for a few reasons:

• New steam engines became popular. They could grind grain faster.
• The river channel to Blennerville became too salty.
• A new shipping canal opened in Tralee in 1846.
• A new harbor was built in Fenit in 1880.

These changes meant ships could no longer easily reach Blennerville.

Bringing the Mill Back to Life

In 1981, the Tralee Urban District Council bought the old mill. They started a big project to fix it up in June 1984. The restored mill was officially opened in 1990. The Taoiseach (Prime Minister) at the time, Charles Haughey, was there for the opening. Today, the mill grinds wheat again, just like it did long ago. It is the only commercial windmill in Ireland that still works.

How the Windmill Works

Key Parts of the Mill

• Windshaft: This is a strong wooden shaft that weighs one ton. It connects the sails to the gears inside.
• Wings (Sails): The mill has four large wings, each about 18 meters (60 feet) long. They catch the wind and turn the windshaft.
• Crown Wheel: This wheel has special iron teeth that help transfer power.
• Brake: A wooden brake uses friction to stop the mill from turning when needed.

Turning the Mill to Face the Wind

The mill has a special system to turn its top part. This allows the sails to always face the wind. A chain is used outside the mill to slowly turn the top. It takes about two hours to turn the mill 180 degrees!

Lifting Sacks of Grain

The mill also has a "sack hoist." This is a clever system with a conical wheel. It helps lift heavy sacks of grain up to the grinding floor.

Visitor Centre

Today, the Blennerville Windmill is more than just a working mill. It also has a visitor centre. Here you can find:

• A craft centre with local goods.
• Model railways to explore.
• An art gallery.
• An audio-visual show about the mill's history.
• A restaurant.

You can also take a guided tour inside the mill. A guide will explain how everything works and share interesting stories.

Gallery

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  The winding mechanism, which helps turn the mill

• 

  A pulley used in the winding system

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  Another view of the winding mechanism

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  The windshaft and a cog wheel inside the cap

• 

  Different cog wheels that help power the mill

• 

  Equipment used for grinding grain

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  A part of the bearing system for the grinding stones

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  A wooden pulley used for lifting

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  The main shaft's footstep bearing

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  A standard that once held a motor, and part of a large gear