List of windmills in Wales facts for kids

Windmills are amazing structures that use the power of wind to do work, usually grinding grain into flour. For hundreds of years, they were very important for communities, especially before electricity was common. Wales, with its windy coastlines and hills, was once home to many windmills. This article explores some of the windmills that have stood across Wales.

Windmills Across Wales

Windmills were once a common sight in many parts of Wales. Each county had its own history with these tall, wind-powered buildings. They helped local communities by grinding corn and doing other jobs.

Anglesey's Many Windmills

Anglesey, an island off the coast of North Wales, had the most windmills of any county in Wales. There were 49 windmills here! This shows how important they were for the people living on the island. Many of these windmills were used to grind grain for bread.

Windmills in South and Mid Wales

• Carmarthenshire: This county had at least one windmill. It was located in Machynys and was used by a brick and tile company around 1900.
• Ceredigion: Four windmills were found in Ceredigion.
• Glamorgan: This area had twelve windmills. One interesting one was the "Y Billy Wynt" in Llantrisant. Another, "Melin Frampton" in Llantwit Major, was built around 1820. There was also a special "Titt iron wind engine" in Radyr, which was a different kind of wind-powered machine. Many of these windmills were tower mills, which are tall, round buildings.
• Monmouthshire: Two windmills were in Monmouthshire. One famous one is "Melin Llancayo" near Usk, built in 1813. Another, "Melin Rogiet," dates back to the 16th century and is now a listed building.
• Pembrokeshire: Nine windmills were located in Pembrokeshire. Some notable ones include a windmill in Angle, and "Dale Windmill" in Dale. "Twr y Felin" in St David's, built in 1806, is now part of a hotel!
• Powys: There were two windmills in Powys. One, "Melin Bettisfield," has been converted into a home.

Windmills in North East Wales

• Conwy: Only one windmill was recorded in Conwy County Borough. This was "Melin Hen Dŵr" in Llandudno, which dates back to the early 18th century.
• Denbighshire: Three windmills were found in Denbighshire.
• Flintshire: Five windmills were in Flintshire. "Groes Onnen" in Holywell was a tower mill. Another, "Melin Garreg" in Whitford, was also a tower mill.

Windmills in North West Wales

• Gwynedd: Four windmills were located in Gwynedd. One well-known example is "Melin Foel Fawr" in Mynytho.

Types of Windmills

Most of the windmills in Wales were tower mills. These are tall, round stone or brick buildings with a cap on top that could turn to face the wind. This design made them very strong and able to withstand the weather. Some windmills were also used for purposes other than grinding grain, like pumping water or powering machinery.

What Happened to the Windmills?

As technology advanced, especially with the invention of steam engines and then electricity, windmills became less necessary. Many fell into disuse and ruin. Some were demolished, like the Kilvey Hill Mill in Swansea, which was gone by 1957. Others were converted into homes or other buildings, like Melin Bettisfield in Powys. Today, the remaining windmills are important historical landmarks, reminding us of Wales's past.

Images for kids

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  Groes Onnen, a tower mill in Holywell, Flintshire.

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  Y Billy Wynt, a tower mill in Llantrisant, Glamorgan.

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  Melin Frampton in Llantwit Major, Glamorgan.

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  A former windmill near St Donats, Glamorgan.

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  Hayes Farm Mill, a tower mill in Sully, Glamorgan.

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  The ruins of Kilvey Hill Mill in Swansea, Glamorgan.

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  A tower mill in Wick, Glamorgan.

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  Melin Foel Fawr, a tower mill in Mynytho, Gwynedd.

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  Melin Llancayo, a tower mill in Monmouthshire.

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  Melin Rogiet, a tower mill in Monmouthshire.

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  A tower mill in Angle, Pembrokeshire.

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  Dale Windmill, a tower mill in Pembrokeshire.

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  Twr y Felin, a former windmill in St David's, Pembrokeshire.

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  Melin Bettisfield, a tower mill in Powys, now converted into a dwelling.

See also

• Centre for Alternative Technology

Maps

• 1878 Ordnance Survey