Dobson's Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dobson's Mill |
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Dobson's Mill
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| Origin | |
| Mill location | Burgh le Marsh, Lincolnshire |
| Coordinates | 53°09′38″N 0°14′52″E / 53.1606°N 0.2477°E |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Flour mill |
| Type | Tower mill |
| Storeys | Five |
| No. of sails | Five |
| Type of sails | Patent-Shutter |
| Other information | |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Designated | 28 May 1965 |
| Reference no. | 1222732 |
| Current Status | Visitor attraction, currently closed due to storm damage |
| Website | http://www.visitburghlemarsh.co.uk/burgh_heritage_centre.html |
Dobson's Mill is a historic windmill located in the town of Burgh le Marsh, near Skegness in Lincolnshire, England. This impressive tower windmill was once used to grind wheat and corn into flour. Before it was damaged by a storm, it was a popular place for tourists to visit. It is also a very important building, listed as a Grade I listed site. The area around the mill is also home to the Burgh-le-Marsh Heritage Centre.
History of Dobson's Mill
Dobson's Mill was built in the early 1800s. A millwright named Sam Oxley from Alford constructed the mill. It was built for the Jessop family, who used to bake bread right there on the same property. The mill was fully finished and ready to operate by 1844. The name "Dobson" comes from the last person who worked as a miller there.
How Dobson's Mill Worked
This windmill is built with five storeys, or levels, and is made of brick that was covered in tar. It had five sails, which is a bit unusual for a windmill. What's even more unique is that these sails turned in a clockwise direction.
Inside the mill, the sails powered three sets of large grinding stones. Two of these were "grey stones," and one set was "French stones." These stones turned in an anti-clockwise direction to grind the grain. There's also a spot on the ground floor where a steam engine could be connected. This engine would help power an extra set of grinding stones when needed.
Restoring and Repairing the Mill
In the 1960s, the local council bought Dobson's Mill. They worked to restore it and keep it in good condition. A major refurbishment happened in 2014. During this time, a new cap (the top part of the mill) and new sails were put on the windmill.
However, on February 9, 2020, a very strong storm named Storm Ciara hit the area. The powerful winds from the storm sadly destroyed the mill's cap and its sails. Because of this damage, the mill is currently closed to visitors.
