List of windmills in West Yorkshire facts for kids
Windmills are amazing machines that use the power of wind to do work! For hundreds of years, people used windmills to grind grain into flour, pump water, or even saw wood. This article explores some of the historic windmills found in West Yorkshire, a county in England. Many of these old mills are no longer working, but they remind us of a time when wind power was a vital part of daily life.
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What is a Windmill?
A windmill is a building with large blades, called sails, that catch the wind. When the wind blows, the sails turn a shaft inside the mill. This shaft then powers machinery, most often grinding stones.
There are different types of windmills:
- Tower mills are tall, round buildings made of stone or brick. Their tops can often turn to face the wind. Most windmills in West Yorkshire were tower mills.
- Smock mills have a wooden frame, often shaped like a smock (an old-fashioned shirt). They usually have a movable cap like tower mills.
Famous Windmills of West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire was once home to many windmills. Here are some of the most interesting ones:
Aberford Mills
The village of Aberford had several windmills. One of the earliest was Barkeston Mill, mentioned way back in 1216! Another important one was Hicklam Mill, a tower mill that was built in the 18th century.
Birstall's Brownhill Mill
In Birstall, you could find Brownhill Mill. This was a tower mill. It's a great example of the kind of windmills that dotted the landscape.
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Bramham Mill
Bramham Mill is another tower mill from the 18th century. It stands near Bramham. These mills were very important for local communities.
Darrington Windmill
Darrington Mill is a tower mill built in the late 18th or early 19th century. It's located in Darrington. Many of these mills were built around the same time.
Kippax Mill
Kippax Mill in Kippax is another tower mill that dates back to the 18th century. It shows how common these structures were in the area.
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Leeds Windmills
The city of Leeds had several windmills.
- Colton Mill was a tower mill from the mid-18th century.
- Potternewton Mill was also a tower mill, built in the late 18th century.
- Whin Moor Mill (also known as Seacroft Mill or Swillington Mill) was another tower mill in Leeds.
- There was also a Flint Mill in Leeds, used for grinding flint, not just grain.
Pontefract's Dandy Mill
In Pontefract, you could find Dandy Mill, also known as Boreas Union Mill. This tower mill was built in 1819. It's a more recent example compared to some others.
South Kirkby Mill
Kirkby Mill in South Kirkby is a tower mill. It was mentioned in 1854, showing that windmills were still being used and recorded in the mid-19th century.
Upton Windmill
Upton Mill is a tower mill located in Upton. Like many others, it played a role in the local economy.
Wakefield Mills
Wakefield had two interesting smock mills, both built in 1755:
- A Flint Mill
- An Oil Mill (used for pressing oil from seeds)
Other Notable Mills
- Barwick Mill in Barwick in Elmet was around in the 1850s but was demolished by the 1950s.
- Howden Brickworks Pump in Howden was a tower mill, likely used to pump water for brick-making.
- Knottingley Mill in Knottingley was another tower mill.
- Morley Mill in Morley was also a windmill.
- Boyle Hall in West Ardsley was a Titt iron wind engine, a more modern type of wind-powered machine from 1899. It was gone by 1971.
These windmills show the rich history of wind power in West Yorkshire. They were once vital for many industries and everyday life.
Images for kids
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Brownhill Windmill, a tower mill in Birstall.
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Bramham Mill, a historic tower mill.
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Darrington Mill, a tower mill.
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Kippax Mill in West Yorkshire.
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Potternewton Mill, also known as Round House.
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Whin Moor Mill, also called Seacroft Windmill.
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Dandy Mill in Pontefract.
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Kirkby Mill in South Kirkby.
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Upton Mill, a tower mill in Upton.
