Waltham Windmill facts for kids
Waltham Windmill is a cool six-sailed windmill in the village of Waltham, England. It's about five miles from Grimsby in North East Lincolnshire. This windmill is super special because all six of its sails still work! It's one of only a few like it in the whole United Kingdom.
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Building the Windmill
Early Windmills on This Spot
The very first windmill here was built way back in 1666. It was a trestle post mill. This type of mill could turn its whole body to face the wind. The spot was great, right on Brigsley Road. This made it easy to move things to and from Grimsby and the farms nearby.
Sadly, this first mill was blown down by strong winds in 1744. But don't worry, a new post mill was built quickly to take its place. However, this second mill also met a similar fate. It was blown down in 1873.
The Windmill We See Today
The windmill you see now started being built in 1878. It was finished in 1880 by a talented painter named John Saunderson. He was from Louth, Lincolnshire.
This new windmill was made from local bricks. It was covered with tar to protect it from the weather. This mill was much bigger than the old ones. It had six floors and six double-sided sails. These sails powered four pairs of grinding stones. These stones were used to make flour. Two were "greystones" from the Peak District, and two were French quartzite stones.
Later Years and Changes
Sails and Power
In the 1920s, the sails were changed. They became single-sided sails. This made the windmill work better in light winds.
By 1962, Waltham Windmill was one of the last windmills in England still working only by wind power. But from 1962 to 1967, it started using electricity to help grind the flour.
World War II Story
During World War II, there's an interesting story about the windmill. When RAF Grimsby airbase was being built, some officials thought the windmill could be a landmark. They worried it might help enemy planes find their way. They even thought about taking it down.
But the farmer who owned the mill wasn't happy about that! He told them to leave his windmill alone. In the end, the windmill was saved. Another nearby windmill, Binbrook Windmill, was taken down. But Waltham Windmill stood strong!
Waltham Windmill Now
Today, Waltham Windmill is a fun place to visit! Around the windmill, you can find lots of cool things:
- A miniature railway
- A museum about old country life
- The Grimsby Telephone Museum
- An old-fashioned sweet shop with treats from the 1920s to 1970s
- An Indian restaurant
- A café inside an old train carriage!
The windmill itself is still standing tall. It's looked after by the Waltham Windmill Preservation Society and the Waltham Windmill Trust. They hold many events throughout the year. These include car boot sales in the summer and classic car rallies. There are even Airshows and a big firework display every November!
Fun Facts About the Windmill
- In 2001, the top part of the windmill and its sails were taken off. They were restored and repainted to look new again.
- The windmill is so important to the area that it's used as the symbol for Waltham's Infant and Junior Schools.
- In 2013, the windmill got another big restoration. It cost about £30,000 to make sure it stays in great shape!
