Lytham Windmill facts for kids
Lytham Windmill stands on Lytham Green in the seaside town of Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England. It is a special kind of windmill called a tower mill. Its main job was to grind wheat and oats into flour. The mill stopped grinding flour in 1921. Since then, it has belonged to the town. Today, Fylde Borough Council looks after it. They open it for visitors during the summer months. Inside the mill, there is also a museum. The Lytham Heritage Trust runs this museum. It teaches you all about the history of flour milling.
The mill was built around 1805 on Lytham marshes. A miller named Richard Cookson leased the land from the local squire. Some parts of the mill were reused from older mills. For example, its main shaft was 150 years old and made of strong Baltic oak. A stone base, called a plinth, was added later for safety. There used to be a smoky drying kiln next to the mill. Local residents asked for it to be moved. So, it was moved to Kiln Street. Later, the land around the mill became a grassy area. This green space runs between the houses and the sea. The windmill stands right in the middle of it.
In 1919, a very strong wind caused a big problem. The mill's brake failed, and the sails spun out of control. This caused a fire that burned out the inside of the mill. Two years later, in 1921, the squire, John T. Clifton, gave the empty mill building to the town. The outside of the mill was fixed. It got a new top and fake sails. After that, it was used for many different things. It was a cafe, a clubhouse for boating groups, and even an electricity station.
In 1951, Lytham Windmill became a Grade II listed building. This means it is an important historical building. Then, in 1989, Fylde Borough Council fully restored it. They opened it to the public so everyone could visit.
History of Lytham Windmill
Windmills have been a part of Lytham's story for many years. In 1805, Richard Cookson got permission to build a "windy milne" (windmill). He leased the land from the local squire. Later, around 1860, fancy houses were built nearby. The people living in these houses thought the windmill was a "noisy factory"!
On January 2, 1919, a huge storm hit. The strong wind turned the sails even though the brake was on. Sparks flew and set the wooden parts on fire. The windmill quickly burned, and its inside was completely destroyed. The windmill stayed empty until 1921. That's when the squire gave it to the Lytham Urban District Council.
In 1989, Fylde Borough Council restored the windmill. They opened it for everyone to visit. Today, Lytham Windmill is looked after by Fylde Borough Council and the Lytham Heritage Group working together.
See also
- Listed buildings in Lytham
- List of windmills in Lancashire
