Melin Llynon, Llanddeusant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Melin Llynon, Llanddeusant |
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Melin Llynon, September 2014
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| Origin | |
| Mill name | Llynon Mill (Welsh: Melin Llynon) |
| Mill location | Llanddeusant |
| Grid reference | SH 3405 8523 |
| Coordinates | 53°20′16″N 4°29′38″W / 53.3379°N 4.4939°W |
| Operator(s) | Richard Holt |
| Year built | 1775 |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn mill |
| Type | Tower |
| Storeys | Three |
| No. of sails | Four |
| Type of sails | Common |
| Winding | Wheel and chain |
| Other information | Only working windmill in Wales |
Melin Llynon, also known as Llynon Mill, is a cool old windmill located near the village of Llanddeusant on Anglesey island in Wales. It's super special because it's the only working windmill left in all of Wales! A windmill like this is called a gristmill because it grinds grain, like corn, into flour.
Contents
History of Llynon Mill
Building the Mill
Melin Llynon was built a long time ago, between 1775 and 1776. It cost about £529 back then! This type of windmill is called a tower mill. This means it has a strong stone tower. The top part, called the cap (or cwch in Welsh), can turn. This lets the sails (or hwyliau) always catch the wind, no matter which way it blows.
The tower is about 9.3 meters tall and has four different floors inside. The mill's main job was to grind corn, oats, and barley into flour. The first miller, Thomas Jones, worked there for many years. His family continued to run the mill for generations.
When the Mill Stopped Working
Over time, the mill faced some challenges. In 1918, a big storm hit and damaged the cap. This made it hard for the mill to turn and face the wind properly. It still worked sometimes for a few more years, but only when the wind came from the southwest. Eventually, the mill had to close down. By 1954, it was too damaged to work at all.
Bringing the Mill Back to Life
Restoration and Reopening
Luckily, the Isle of Anglesey County Council bought the mill in 1978. They decided to fix it up and bring it back to life! After a lot of hard work, Melin Llynon was restored and reopened on May 11, 1984. Since 1986, the windmill has been grinding stoneground flour again, just like it used to!
Who Owns the Mill Now?
Today, Melin Llynon is owned by Richard Holt and his family. They bought the mill in 2019. Richard used to be a pastry chef in London, England. Now, he works at the mill with his partner, sister, and father. It's a real family business!
Fun Things to Do at Melin Llynon
Besides seeing the amazing working windmill, there are other cool things to explore at Melin Llynon:
- Iron Age Roundhouse: You can visit a reconstructed Iron Age roundhouse hut. It shows what homes might have looked like thousands of years ago!
- Sweet Treats: There's a chocolate factory on site where you can see how yummy chocolates are made. You can also grab some delicious donuts, called "Mônuts"!
- Local Gin: Melin Llynon has even teamed up with a local distillery to create a special gin drink.
- Model Safari: You can also find a fun model safari display to explore.
Melin Llynon is a fantastic place to learn about history, see a working windmill, and enjoy some tasty treats!
Images for kids
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Llynnon mill Iron Age roundhouse reconstruction
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Melin Llynnon in 1976, before its restoration
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