Metheringham Windmill facts for kids
The Metheringham Windmill is a very old windmill in England. People in the area often call it The Old Meg Flour Mill. It was built in 1867 to grind grain into flour. This tall, brick windmill is found in the village of Metheringham, south of Lincoln. It is one of many famous windmills in Lincolnshire.
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What is the Metheringham Windmill?
This windmill was once very tall, with six floors inside. It had six large sails that spun in the wind. The outside was covered in a dark, sticky tar. This helped protect the bricks. At the very top, it had a white, round cap. A special fan, called a fantail, was on the cap. The fantail would automatically turn the cap so the sails faced the wind.
How the Mill Worked
Inside the mill, there were strong iron gears. These gears connected the sails to four pairs of large millstones. When the sails turned, the millstones would spin. They would crush grain, like wheat, into flour. A small house was built nearby for the miller to live in.
A Mill's Challenges
Even with all its parts, the Metheringham Windmill never made much money. Over time, it started to lose its sails. First, four sails were removed and not replaced. The millers had to move the remaining sails around. This helped keep the mill balanced as it worked.
The Mill's Final Years
The windmill started with six sails. Then it ran with four, then two, and finally three. It worked for about 60 years. Around 1930, the mill stopped grinding flour. Until 1942, you could still see its unique three-sail design.
What Remains Today?
After 1942, the last sails disappeared. By 1961, the cap and the main shaft that held the sails were also gone. The tar coating on the tower is now wearing off. You can see the different patterns in the bricks underneath. There are 205 layers of bricks!
Inside the Old Mill
Some parts of the iron stage can still be seen on the second floor. This stage was a platform around the mill. It was used to reach the sails. However, these parts are in poor condition. They were damaged when sails crashed. People cannot go inside the mill. This means no one can see the old machinery that is left.
