Marsh Mill facts for kids

Marsh Mill is an old tower windmill located in Thornton, Lancashire, England. It was built in 1794. A local landowner named Bold Hesketh asked Ralph Slater to build it. The mill was used to grind corn into flour until the 1920s. Today, it has been fully fixed up. It is a great example of a complete English windmill. It is also a special "Grade II*" listed building.

History of Marsh Mill

Marsh Mill was ordered by Bold Hesketh, a landowner from Rossall Hall. Ralph Slater, a skilled mill builder from Fylde, built it in 1794. The mill got its name from the marshy land in north Fylde. Bold Hesketh had this land drained to build the mill.

Early Use and Changes

Ralph Slater was a famous mill builder. He also built mills in Pilling and Clifton. Marsh Mill first ground different types of flour. In the early 1800s, it started grinding meal for farm animals.

Over time, the mill was updated. In the 19th century, its old chain and wheel system was replaced. A four-bladed fantail was added. This fantail helps the mill turn to face the wind. In 1896, the original sails were replaced. New patent sails were put on. These sails are easier to control.

Later Years and Restoration

The mill stopped working in the 1920s. From 1928 to 1935, Marsh Mill was used as a café. In 1930, a part of the mill's structure collapsed. This led to the café closing down.

On March 24, 1950, Marsh Mill became a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a very important building. Starting in 1965, the Marsh Mill Preservation Society worked for 20 years to fix it. More repairs were done in 1990. This made the mill's machinery work perfectly again. Experts say it is the "best preserved" and "finest" windmill in northwest England. English Heritage calls it "an exceptionally complete example of a tower windmill."

How Marsh Mill is Built

Marsh Mill is made of brick covered in stucco. It is more than 70 feet (21 m) tall. The mill has five floors. The tower gets narrower as it goes up. It has simple square windows. A two-story building for drying grain is attached.

Inside the Mill

The ground floor and first floor are used for storage. They also have rooms for drying things. The second floor is called the meal floor. Here, you can find machines that clean and prepare corn. On this floor, there is a wooden platform outside. It goes all the way around the tower. Stone supports hold it up at the first floor level. This platform lets people get to the sails.

The third floor is the stone floor. It holds four sets of millstones. These stones grind the grain. The very top floor is the dust floor. Like many windmills in the Fylde area, Marsh Mill has a special boat-shaped wooden cap on top. It now has a "Lees Flyer" fantail.