Broad Eye Windmill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Broad Eye Windmill |
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Broad Eye Windmill with the River Sow
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Windmill |
| Town or city | Stafford, Staffordshire, West Midlands |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 52°48′26″N 2°07′22″W / 52.807094°N 2.122786°W |
| Completed | 1796 |
The Broad Eye Windmill is an historic windmill located in the town of Stafford, Staffordshire, England. This unique building has a rich past. Today, it houses a local radio station called Windmill Broadcasting. A dedicated group, the Friends of Broad Eye Windmill, helps look after it.
The windmill worked for exactly 100 years. Its large sails were removed in 1897. For the next century, many different businesses tried to operate from the windmill. However, none of them lasted very long. This was probably because of the building's curved inside walls.
A famous actor and historian named Tony Robinson supports the Broad Eye Windmill.
Contents
The Story of Broad Eye Windmill
How the Windmill Began (1700s)
In the late 1700s, the town of Stafford had three water mills. But they still couldn't make enough flour for everyone. A lot of flour was being sent away to Birmingham. This happened because of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, built in 1772.
Also, the water mills charged very high prices for grain and flour. This was due to old "corn laws." These laws allowed farmers and millers to charge a lot. Because of this, many local people in Stafford went hungry.
To solve this problem, work began on the Broad Eye Windmill in 1796. It was finished in the early 1800s. Land was set aside for the project near the River Sow. This area, called Broad Eye, is one of the lowest spots in Stafford Borough.
The windmill was built using stone from the old Shire Hall, Stafford. At 63 feet tall, it was the highest windmill in the Midlands. It originally had a cone-shaped top and seven floors. Only the top four floors were used to make flour.
Changes in the 1800s
By 1835, people needed even more flour. So, a steam engine was put in the lower floors. This helped the mill keep working even when there was no wind. But this didn't completely fix the problem.
In 1837, the main railway arrived in Stafford. The town was growing very fast. With new train lines, it was easy to bring in cheaper flour from other places. The Broad Eye Windmill couldn't compete with these lower prices.
Also, people started wanting finer, white flour. The Broad Eye Windmill couldn't produce this type of flour. So, by 1896, the windmill was no longer used for making flour. In 1897, its sails and other parts were removed.
What Happened in the 1900s
In 1919, the bottom part of the windmill was turned into a shop. From the early 1920s until 1931, it was a butcher’s shop. We still have old photographs from when it was a shop!
Later, during wartime, American troops used the mill as a storage place. After that, it was left empty and started to fall apart. In 1951, it was officially named a Grade II listed building. This means it's an important historic building that needs to be protected.
Broad Eye Windmill Today
In 1966, a group called the Friends of Broad Eye Windmill was formed. Their goal is to restore the mill to its original look. They also want to create a heritage and education center inside.
The Friends group plans to fix damaged oak beams, joists, and floorboards. This will allow the upper floors to be used as a museum and heritage centre. Inside the windmill, you can find old items and photos. These show the windmill's history and Stafford's industrial past. Right now, only the ground floor and basement are open to visitors.
The Friends of Broad Eye Windmill often have open days in the summer. These days let people see inside the mill. They also help raise awareness about the windmill's renovation. Donations are always welcome. They help pay for the renovation and preservation of this important building.
Windmill Broadcasting Station
In 2016, Windmill Broadcasting, a local community radio station, started broadcasting from the Broad Eye Windmill. The station is based inside the mill. It also works with the windmill members. They help with fundraising and renovation efforts. This partnership helps promote the windmill to more people.
