Little Marton Mill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Little Marton Mill
Origin
Mill location	Blackpool, Lancashire
Grid reference	SD 349,341
Coordinates	53°47′57″N 2°59′23″W / 53.7991°N 2.9898°W / 53.7991; -2.9898
Year built	1838
Information
Purpose	Corn mill
Type	Tower mill
Storeys	Four
No. of sails	Four
Fantail blades	Fifty
Listed Building – Grade II Designated: 20 October 1983 Reference #: 1205764

Little Marton Mill is an old windmill located in Marton, which is now part of Blackpool, England. It was built in 1838 to grind corn, which means turning grain into flour. This historic mill worked for many years until 1928. Today, it is recognized as a special building and is protected as a Grade II listed building.

The Mill's Story

Little Marton Mill was built in 1838 by a mill builder named John Hays. It was made for John Whalley on the same spot where an older mill once stood. Long ago, there were many mills like this in the area. Little Marton Mill is the very last one left within what is now Blackpool.

The small village of Little Marton became part of Blackpool and St Anne's-on-the-Sea over time. A miller named Cornelius Bagot ran the mill until it stopped working in September 1928.

In 1937, Mr. Bagot fixed up the mill and gave it to a special fund. This was done to remember C. Allen Clarke, who was a local teacher, writer, and loved windmills. The mill was given a big update again in 1987, which cost a lot of money.

Today, Little Marton Mill is open to visitors on Sundays. Volunteers are there to show people around and explain how the mill worked. They also share its interesting history.

The mill stands on a green area near the M55 motorway. It's a well-known landmark for people driving into Blackpool. Because of its importance, Historic England officially made it a Grade II listed building in 1983. This means it's a "nationally important" building with special history.

What the Mill Looks Like

Little Marton Mill is built in a style common for windmills in the the Fylde area. It has four levels, including a basement, and is round. The bottom part is wide compared to its height.

The mill is made of brick that has been covered with a special plaster called stucco and painted white. On the outside wall, there's a plaque that remembers local writer Allen Clarke.

You can go into the mill through double doors at the basement level on the east side. There's also a single door on the west side. The mill has square windows on the first, second, and third floors.

Like other windmills in the Fylde, the top part, called the cap, is shaped like a boat. This cap was replaced in 1987. The mill has four large sails and a fantail with eight blades. A fantail helps the mill turn to face the wind. Some of the original machinery is now at Lytham Windmill.