List of windmills in the East Riding of Yorkshire facts for kids

Windmills are amazing machines that use the power of the wind to do work, like grinding grain into flour or pumping water. For hundreds of years, windmills were super important in places like the East Riding of Yorkshire in England. They helped communities by making food and managing water. This article will tell you about some of the cool windmills that once stood, or still stand, in this part of Yorkshire.

What Kinds of Windmills Were There?

Windmills come in different shapes and sizes, but two main types were common in the East Riding:

• Post Mills: These are the oldest type. The whole body of the mill, which holds all the machinery, sits on a large central post. This means the entire mill can be turned to face the wind! Imagine turning a whole building!
• Tower Mills: These mills have a tall, fixed tower, usually made of brick or stone. Only the cap (the top part with the sails) turns to catch the wind. This made them stronger and able to hold more machinery.

Windmills of Beverley

Beverley, a historic town, had many windmills over the centuries. Some were quite old!

• One of the earliest windmills mentioned in Beverley was in Beverley Westwood in 1558. Later, a post mill was built there in 1625, but it was taken down in 1868.
• The Far Mill, also a post mill, was first mentioned in 1706 and was demolished in 1803.
• A famous tower mill in Beverley was known by many names: Far Mill, Black Mill, High Mill, or Baitson's Mill. It was built around 1803.
• The Union Mill, sometimes called the Anti-mill, was a tower mill built in 1802. It was later shortened in 1897.
• Another tower mill called Lowson's Mill started operating in 1801.
• Crathorne's Mill, a tower mill, was active from 1845 to 1868.
• The Butt Close Mill, also known as Fishwick's Mill, was a post mill from 1761 until it was demolished in 1861.

Windmills of Hull

The city of Hull, a busy port, also had many windmills, especially for grinding grain and processing goods.

• The Newland Mill on Beverley Road was a tower mill that was taken down in 1881. Its machinery was even moved to another mill far away in Lincolnshire!
• Several tower mills were built in Hull around the late 1700s and early 1800s, showing how important they were for the growing city.
• The Stoneferry area had a mill mentioned in 1775, and another one was built there in 1841.
• The Humber Bank Mill was a tower mill from 1770.
• An interesting smock mill (another type of windmill, similar to a tower mill but with a wooden frame) was on Cent-per-Cent Street in the 1820s.
• Eyre's Mill on Holderness Road was a notable tower mill.

Windmills in Other Towns and Villages

Beyond Beverley and Hull, many other places in the East Riding of Yorkshire had their own windmills, some dating back hundreds of years!

• In Aldbrough, there was a mill at Bewick Manor in the 14th century, and the Aldbrough Mill was around from about 1764 until 1930.
• Anlaby had a post mill from 1657, which was taken down in 1909. Later, the Providence Mill, a tower mill, was built in 1805.
• Bainton Mill is a tower mill that was built in 1818.
• Near Bempton, the Sewerby Mill is a tower mill.
• Bishop Wilton Mill, a tower mill, was built in 1829.
• Bridlington had the Duke's Mill, a tower mill, from 1800.
• The Buckton Mill in Buckton is a tower mill.
• Burton Pidsea Mill is a tower mill built in 1834.
• In Cottingham, both the Low Mill (1780) and North Mill (1813) were tower mills.
• Easington had a tower mill.
• Ellerker Mill, a tower mill, was built in 1822 and demolished in 1913.
• Etton Mill was originally a sunk post mill from 1315, meaning its main post was buried in the ground. Later, a tower mill was built there around 1780.
• Foston Mill in Foston on the Wolds is a tower mill from 1820.
• The Blue Mill in Garton is a tower mill from the mid-1820s.
• Goole had several important tower mills, including Timms Mill, Herons's Mill, and Goole Field's Mill.
• In Hemingbrough, a post mill was active from 1609 until 1913.
• Cliff Mill in Hessle is a tower mill built in 1806.
• Hornsea had several mills, including a tower mill built in 1820.
• Hail Mill in Howden is a tower mill from the late 1700s or early 1800s.
• Hutton Cranswick Mill is another tower mill from a similar period.
• Keyingham had an Old Mill (a post mill) and later a New Mill (a tower mill) built in 1828.
• Kilham Mill is a tower mill from 1809.
• Lelley Mill is a tower mill built in 1790.
• Mappleton Mill is a tower mill from 1798.
• Nafferton Mill is a tower mill built in 1829.
• New Ellerby Mill is a tower mill.
• Newport Mill is a tower mill built in 1797.
• North Howden had a tower mill at the brickyard.
• Patrington had several mills, including the East Mill (a tower mill from 1845) and Haven Mill (a tower mill from 1810). The Black Mill is also a tower mill.
• Preston had a post mill that was demolished in 1813, and then a new tower mill was built.
• In Seaton Ross, there were several tower mills, including New Mill, Common Mill, and Old Mill.
• Skidby Mill is a famous tower mill built in 1821, replacing an older post mill.
• Speeton Mill is a tower mill.
• Walkington Mill is a tower mill built in 1850.
• Waxholme Mill is a tower mill.
• Wetwang Mill is a Midlands post mill.
• Wilberfoss Mill was a post mill until 1839, when a new tower mill was built.
• Wressle Mill is a tower mill built in 1827.
• Mill Farm Mill in Yokefleet is a tower mill.

These windmills played a huge role in the daily lives of people in the East Riding of Yorkshire for many centuries, helping to power industries and provide food for communities. Even though many are gone now, their history reminds us of the clever ways people used natural energy long ago.

Images for kids

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  Cricket match on Beverley Westwood, showing a mill before 1868.

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  The former Union Mill, now The Club House, Beverley Golf Club.

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  Crathorne's Flour Mill in Beverley, 1890.

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  Stoneferry mills in Hull.

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  Eyre's Mill on Holderness Road, Hull.

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  Bainton Mill in the East Riding.

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  Sewerby Mill in the East Riding.

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  Bishop Wilton Mill, also known as Yapham Grange.

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  Buckton Mill.

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  Burton Pidsea Mill.

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  Easington Windmill in 1905.

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  Ellerker Mill during demolition in 1913.

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  Etton Mill.

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  Foston on the Wolds Mill.

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  The Blue Mill at Garton.

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  Timms Mill in Goole.

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  Herons's Mill in Goole.

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  Old Goole Mill.

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  Cliff Mill in Hessle.

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  Hornsea Windmill in 1900.

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  Hornsea Brickyard Mill in 1870.

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  Hail Mill in Howden.

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  Hutton Cranswick Mill.

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  Old Mill in Keyingham.

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  New Mill in Keyingham.

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  Kilham Mill.

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  Kilpin Windpump.

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  Lelley Mill.

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  Mappleton Mill.

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  Nafferton Mill.

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  New Ellerby Mill.

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  Newport Mill in 1904.

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  Howden Brickyard Windpump in North Howden.

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  Haven Mill in Patrington.

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  Black Mill in Patrington.

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  New Mill in Seaton Ross.

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  Common Mill in Seaton Ross.

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  Old Mill in Seaton Ross.

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  Skidby Mill.

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  Speeton Mill in 1920.

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  Walkington Windmill in 1912.

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  Waxholme Mill.

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  Wetwang Mill in 1900.

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  Mill Farm Mill in Yokefleet.