List of windmills in Cornwall facts for kids

A windmill is a special building that uses the power of the wind to turn large blades. These blades then power machinery inside, usually for grinding grain into flour or pumping water. For hundreds of years, windmills were very important for daily life, helping communities make food and manage water.

This article explores the history of windmills in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, two beautiful areas in the southwest of England. Many of these old windmills are now gone, but their stories help us understand how people lived and worked long ago.

Windmills in Cornwall

Cornwall, with its windy coastlines, was once home to many windmills. Here are some of the most interesting ones:

Early Windmills in Cornwall

• In Fowey, a post mill was first mentioned way back in 1296. Post mills are one of the oldest types, where the whole body of the mill, including the machinery and the sails, can be turned to face the wind. This mill was replaced by a tower mill later on. Another post mill, Coombe Mill, was noted in 1314.
• Lanteglos by Fowey had windmills mentioned in 1322, but they were already in ruins by 1349. This shows that windmills had a tough life and often didn't last very long!
• In Marazion, a mill was recorded in 1342.
• Launceston had a mill around 1391, possibly surviving until 1512.

Notable Windmills and Their Stories

• At Budock, near Arwenack Manor, there was a "sunk post mill" and a regular post mill mentioned in 1580.
• Pendennis Castle also had a windmill in the 1660s, but it was a ruin by 1715.
• Treffry's Mill in Fowey is a famous tower mill. Tower mills are built with a fixed tower, and only the cap (the top part with the sails) turns to face the wind. This mill was first mentioned in 1564. In the 19th century, it was changed into a folly, which is a building built just for decoration. You can find more about it on Windmill World.
• In Gwinear, Relistian Mill had a dramatic end. In 1686, it was reported that "Relistian windmill is burnt to the ground, supposed to take fire of itself in working with a very strong wind." This shows the dangers of working with these powerful machines!
• Landewednack Mill, also known as Mount Herman Mill, is a tower mill first mentioned in 1695. You can learn more about it on Windmill World.
• Empacombe Mill in Maker is another tower mill, built around 1729. You can find more details on Windmill World.
• In Padstow, Trevone Mill was a tower mill from the 17th century. It was later converted into a water tower in the 20th century. More information is available on Windmill World.
• Par had two interesting "Titt iron wind engines" at Trenython, built in 1894. These were more modern types of wind pumps, often used for water.
• St Ives had Eathorne's Mill, first recorded in 1732 and still working until 1883.
• In St Just in Penwith, there was a unique "vertical axle mill" at Wheal Whidden in 1849, and a "wind wheel" at Bollowall Farm, which was gone by 1920.
• Carlyon Hill Mill in St Minver is a tower mill that dates back to around 1690. You can read more about it on Windmill World.

Other Windmills in Cornwall

Many other places in Cornwall also had windmills, even if their stories are not as detailed:

• Callington (Kit Hill Mill, 1848)
• Gerrans (Tregassa Mill, 1588-1748; Rostreage Mill, demolished around 1824)
• Launcells (Raggett Mill, 1684-1809)
• Looe (derelict by 1823)
• Madron (Ding Dong Mine, 1797)
• Manaccan (demolished around 1816)
• Morwenstow (Tonacombe, 1727-1748)
• Philleigh (Treworthal Mill, 1654-1753)
• St Agnes (1824)
• St Austell (1752)
• St Columb Minor (Trenance, 1696)
• St Gennys (1649-1748)
• St Just in Roseland (Trevennal Mill, a post mill from 1560-1695, later replaced by a tower mill)
• St Mawgan in Meneage (Cruge Weith, 1585)
• St Merryn (Trehemborne Farm, a tower mill from the mid-17th century)
• Week St Mary (Creddacott, 1305)
• Wendron (1690s)

Windmills in the Isles of Scilly

The Isles of Scilly are a group of islands off the coast of Cornwall. They also relied on windmills for power.

• An early mill belonging to Ranulf Blanchminster, the lord of the manor, was in ruins by 1348.
• St Mary's, the largest island, had two tower mills at Star Castle built in 1593. They were in ruins by 1732.
• Another tower mill at Penninis Head on St Mary's was built in 1726. It was out of use by 1796 and later became an observation tower called "Rowel's Tower."
• The Spanish Mill on St Mary's is a tower mill built around 1820 and was still working in the late 19th century.

Maps

Old maps can tell us a lot about where windmills used to stand. Some important maps that show windmills in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly include:

• 1675 John Ogilby map
• 1690 and 1693 Collins maps
• 1748 Martyn map
• 1810 Ordnance Survey map
• 1827 C & J Greenwood map

See also

• List of farms in Cornwall

Images for kids

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  Empacombe Mill in Maker, Cornwall.

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  Carlyon Hill Mill in St Minver, Cornwall.

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  The Spanish Mill on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly.