List of windmills in Scotland facts for kids

Windmills are amazing structures that use the power of wind to do work! For hundreds of years, people in Scotland used windmills to grind grain into flour, pump water, or even help with other jobs. These tall buildings with their spinning sails were once a common sight across the Scottish landscape.

Windmills come in different shapes and sizes. The most common type in Scotland was the tower mill, which looks like a tall, round tower. Another type was the post mill, where the whole body of the mill could turn to face the wind. Later, wind engines were used, which were often smaller and used for pumping water.

This article explores some of the interesting windmills that once stood, or still stand, in different parts of Scotland.

Windmills in Aberdeenshire

Aberdeenshire, in the northeast of Scotland, was home to several windmills.

Early Mills in Aberdeenshire

One of the earliest windmills mentioned in this area was the Windmill Hill Mill in Aberdeen, recorded way back in 1661. It shows that windmills have been part of Scotland's history for a long time!

Notable Aberdeenshire Windmills

• Hilton Mill in Ellon was a tower mill built around 1787. It had a long working life, changing from wind power to horse power, then steam, and finally even a tractor before it stopped working in 1956.
• The Glenugie Distillery in Invernettie had a tower mill that was built in 1822. It's interesting to see how windmills were used in different industries, like making whisky!
• In Peterhead, there was a tower mill on "Windmill Street," which tells us how important these mills were to the towns they served. This mill was built in 1794 and was taken down in 1937.

Windmills in Angus

Angus, on the east coast, also had its share of windmills.

Mills Around Forfar and Montrose

• Near Forfar, there was a tower mill at Bankhead Mill, and another tower mill in Forfar itself that was built in 1644. This older mill was demolished in 1838.
• The Dumbarrow Mill in Kirkden was a tower mill mentioned in 1859.
• In Montrose, there were a few mills, with some being mentioned as early as 1693. One, the Rossie Mill, was taken down in the 1700s.

Windmills in Ayrshire

Ayrshire, on the southwest coast, has some well-known windmill ruins.

Famous Ayrshire Windmills

• The Ballantrae Windmill is a very special vaulted tower mill built in 1696. It was already a ruin by 1799, but its unique design makes it stand out.
• The Monkton Mill was another vaulted tower mill from 1773. It was later changed into a dovecote, which is a building for doves or pigeons.
• In Saltcoats, there was once a windmill, and even today, a street called "Windmill Street" reminds us of its past.

Windmills in Banffshire

Banffshire, in the north, also had windmills helping local communities.

Mills of Banffshire

• The Sandend Mill (also known as Glasshaugh Mill) in Fordyce was a tower mill built around 1761. By 1866, it was already a ruin.
• The Northfield Mill in Gamrie was a tower mill built in 1798.

Windmills in Berwickshire

Berwickshire, in the Scottish Borders, had several tower mills.

Berwickshire's Tower Mills

Many of the mills here, like Gunsgreenhill Mill in Ayton, Rumbletonlaw Mill in Gordon, and Swinton Mill in Swinton, were tower mills. The Swintonmill was built in 1813.

Windmills in Caithness

Caithness, at the very top of mainland Scotland, also used wind power.

Castlehill Mill

The most notable mill here is Castlehill Mill in Olrig, a tower mill built in the 1860s.

Windmills in Clackmannanshire

This smaller area also had its own windmill.

Auchinbaird Windmill

The New Sauchie Mill in Alloa, also known as Auchinbaird Windmill, was a tower mill that was later turned into a dovecot.

Windmills in Dumfriesshire

Dumfriesshire, in the south, had a mix of different mill types.

Mills of Dumfriesshire

• In Collin, there was a post mill between 1670 and 1700.
• The Maxwelltown mill in Dumfries was a tower mill built in 1798. It was later changed into an observatory in 1834, a place for looking at stars!
• Duncow Mill in Kirkmahoe was a tower mill from the late 1600s or early 1700s, but it was a ruin by 1855.
• The Mouswald Grange Mill in Mouswald was a tower mill from the late 1700s and kept working until about 1925.

Windmills in East Lothian

East Lothian, near Edinburgh, had many windmills, especially around Dunbar.

East Lothian's Windmills

• The Bielside Mill in Dunbar was a tower mill from the late 1700s.
• Other mills in Dunbar included Oxwellmains Mill and Knockenhair Mill, which was a 17th-century tower mill that became a ruin by 1853.
• In Leith, a tower mill built in 1686 was later converted into a signal tower around 1805.
• The Balgone Barns Mill in North Berwick was a tower mill from the late 1600s and was also turned into a dovecot by 1799.
• A tower mill in Penston from the 17th century was sadly taken down during World War II.

Windmills in Fife

Fife, a peninsula on the east coast, had several windmills, including some unique ones.

Fife's Windmills

• The Melville Mill in Collessie was a tower mill from the late 1700s that became a dovecot.
• In Dunfermline, the Hill House Mill, a 17th-century tower mill, was also converted into a dovecot.
• Elie was known for having "vertical axle mills" in the 18th century, which are a different type of windmill.
• The St Monans Mill in St Monans is a famous tower mill from the late 1700s. It was a ruin by 1853 but has since been restored, meaning it's been fixed up to look like it used to!

Windmills in Forfarshire

Forfarshire, now part of Angus, had an interesting modern windmill.

Montrose Lunatic Asylum Mill

In Montrose, the Montrose Lunatic Asylum had a vertical axis mill built in 1895. This shows how windmills were still being developed and used for different purposes even in the late 1800s. It was taken down in 1925.

Windmills in Invernessshire

In the Highlands, Invernessshire also had its share of wind-powered structures.

Mills in the Highlands

• At Fort George, there was a tower mill that was taken down in the 1910s.
• A tower mill in South Kessock was built in 1827 and taken down in 1943.

Windmills in Kincardineshire

Kincardineshire, south of Aberdeen, had another example of a modern windmill.

Marykirk Mill

In Marykirk, a vertical axis mill was built in 1887 and worked until 1912.

Windmills in Lanarkshire

Lanarkshire, including Glasgow, had windmills that played a role in its history.

Lanarkshire's Mills

• The High Mill in Carluke was a tower mill built in 1797.
• In Glasgow, there was a windmill at Windmillcroft from the 17th century, which was taken down around 1800.
• A windmill in Shettleston was built in 1737 but was blown down by a strong wind just three years later in 1740!

Windmills in Midlothian

Midlothian, home to Edinburgh, also had windmills.

Edinburgh Area Mills

• The Belford Mill in Edinburgh was a tower mill from 1759.
• In Leith, Mylne's Mill was a tower mill built in 1686, which, like another Leith mill, was later converted into a signal tower.

Windmills in Morayshire

Morayshire, on the north coast, had windmills that were sometimes repurposed.

Morayshire Mills

• The Gordonstoun Mill in Drainie was a tower mill from the mid-1700s that was later converted into a dovecot.

Windmills in Orkney

The Orkney Islands had a variety of windmills, including many wind engines.

Orkney's Windmills and Wind Engines

• In North Ronaldsay, there was a post mill called Peckhole Mill, which stopped working in 1908.
• Many places in Orkney, like Birsay, Orphir, Papa Westray, and Westray, had wind engines. These were often used for pumping water or generating a small amount of power. For example, the Chinegar wind engine in Orphir was built in 1910 and worked until 1939. Some wind engines on Papa Westray worked for many years, with one at South Via Mill working until 1958!

Windmills in Perthshire

Perthshire, in central Scotland, also had windmills.

Perthshire Mills

• In Broughty Ferry, there was a tower mill built in 1853 that had five sails, which is quite a lot! It was taken down in the late 1800s.
• The Dunbarney House Windmill in Dunbarney was a tower mill from the late 1600s or early 1700s.

Windmills in Renfrewshire

Renfrewshire, near Glasgow, had windmills in its towns.

Greenock and Paisley Mills

• In Greenock, a windmill was recorded in George Square in 1768.
• There was also a windmill in Paisley.

Windmills in Roxburghshire

Roxburghshire, in the Scottish Borders, had tower mills.

Caverton Mill

The Caverton Mill in Eckford was a tower mill from the late 1700s.

Windmills in Stirlingshire

Stirlingshire, in central Scotland, also had windmills.

Stirlingshire Mills

• The Dunmore Mill in Airth was an 18th-century tower mill that was no longer used by 1860.
• The Myrehead Mill in Muiravonside was another tower mill from the late 1700s.

Windmills in West Lothian

West Lothian, west of Edinburgh, had a notable windmill.

Bridgeness Mill

The Bridgeness Mill in Bo'ness was a tower mill built in 1750. It was later converted into an observatory in the 1800s, just like the Maxwelltown mill!

Windmills in Wigtownshire

Wigtownshire, in the southwest, had several tower mills.

Wigtownshire Mills

• The Logan Mill in Kirkmaiden is a very old tower mill, built in 1684! It was a ruin by 1847.
• The Stoneykirk Mill in Stoneykirk was also a tower mill that was a ruin by 1847.

Windmills in Shetland

Even the remote Shetland Islands had windmills.

South Havra Mill

A windmill was located on South Havra, showing how widespread these useful machines were across Scotland.

Images for kids

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  Glenugie Distillery, once home to a windmill.

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  The Dumbarrow Mill in Angus.

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  The unique vaulted tower windmill at Ballantrae.

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  Monkton Mill, which became a dovecot.

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  The ruins of Glasshaugh Mill in Fordyce.

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  Castlehill Mill in Caithness.

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  The doorway of Auchinbaird Windmill, now a dovecot.

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  Dumfries Museum, once the Maxwelltown windmill.

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  The Duncow Mill in Dumfriesshire.

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  Mouswald Grange Mill, which worked until the 1920s.

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  Bielside Mill in East Lothian.

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  The Old Signal Tower in Leith, once a windmill.

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  Balgone Barns Mill, converted to a dovecot.

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  Melville Doocot, originally Melville Mill.

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  Hill House Mill, Dunfermline, now a dovecot.

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  The restored St Monans Mill.

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  A vertical axis mill at Montrose Lunatic Asylum.

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  James Blyth's 1891 windmill at Marykirk.

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  Malmaison Hotel in Leith, once Mylne's Mill.

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  Dunbarney Mill in Perthshire.

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  Caverton Mill in Roxburghshire.

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  Myrehead Mill in Stirlingshire.

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  Bridgeness Tower, once a windmill.

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  The ruins of Logan Mill in Wigtownshire.