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Lincolnshire

   

Moulton Windmill

Moulton, Lincolnshire

Tower mill,  Restored, but no sails yet. 80ft, 8 storey and basement. Said to be tallest windmill in the country if you discount the cap. This mill was originally about 97 feet high to the top of its ogee cap.

The mill had four double sided patent sails, which unusually for Lincolnshire were carried on stocks in a poll end. The fanstage was of the typical local type with the rear fly posts almost vertical. Apart from the loss of its windshaft and original roof, the mill is complete. Complete restoration is in hand. The Friends of Moulton Mill are hoping to soon raise enough money to fit the sails, and have encouraged local people to "sponsor" a sail shutter. When in fully working order again with its (or her) four patent sails on, Moulton Mill will then be the tallest working windmill in Great Britain and one of the tallest worldwide

In 2003, the mill featured on the first series of BBC2's Restoration with Tim Wonnacott as its Celebrity Advocate. The project won a large Heritage Lottery Fund grant, which, along with many charity fundraising events has meant that the "Friends of Moulton Mill" campaign has succeeded in raising enough money to restore and refurbish the mill's structure and add a new cap. The new white ogee cap, (which weighs 14 tons) is visible for miles across the flat Fenland landscape. A café and shop has also been built, and the mill has disabled access, allowing disabled visitors to see some of the mill's inner workings.

The mill, built in 1822 by Robert King, was a fully functioning windmill, grinding wheat and other products. However, on December 20, 1894, the sails were damaged in a harsh gale and were removed in 1895. Soon afterwards, a steam system was installed to power the mill. A. W. Tindall leased it from the King family from 1890 until 1921. The Biggadike family, who took over tenancy of the mill in 1924 continued to mill, albeit small quantities of animal feed, until 1995.

You can find out more on the detailed internal workings of this mill at http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/windmills/section.asp?catId=3415


On our visit

We found a very large mill, less sails. It was difficult to photograph due to its size and the lack of thought in allowing a large tree to grow right in front of it in recent years. This meant that the only options were close up and producing images that slope back badly. The top images I have attempted to correct the perspective in Photoshop, but its not really worked. The second image down you will see is better from further back, but has the tree in the way. The lower shot is from further up, and there are again limits in the image that can be obtained before you run into obstacles.

The tree that has been stupidly put in the way is the problem, and at the moment stops any really good photographs being taken, as well as people getting a good view of this mill that so much public money has been spent on. As the tree is deciduous (not evergreen) if a winter photo was taken then it may be more twigs than solid green lump.  It may be that when the sails are put on they will remove the tree, or it may be that once fully open that they have to see visitor numbers are poor to realise it needs dealing with. Of course if they need a new photo to go for more grants then they may also discover the problem.

Of course the other problem is likely to be that unless they deal with this tree now, some people will get attached to and and it will then be far more difficult to deal with later.

At the moment its not worth the trip to take it, let us know if you do visit and the tree has been removed.


Further information Grid

Location:

Moulton Windmill, Moulton, Lincolnshire

Ceremonial County: Lincolnshire

Grid Reference:

TF308240  OS Sheet - 131

Map Link:

 

Aerial photo:  

Route(s):

 

Best Times to Visit:

 

E-mail:

grumpygrower@aol.com

Website:

 

Other useful websites:

mills open

WW 

LB

WIKI

lincolnshire.gov.uk  page

BBC press release   grant information pdf 
Wren Funding

Nearby Locations:  
Other Relevant pages:  

Classification:

Windmill

Date Updated: 05/2008

Planning Grid

Location:

Moulton Windmill, Moulton Lincolnshire

Grid Reference:

TF308240

Getting there:

Off A151 between Spalding and Holbeach, in Moulton

Access:

 

Parking:

Car parking to the side of the Mill, also on side of road in village.

Facilities:

Tearooms, toilets, baby changing, disabled toilets,  Interpretation centre, CCTV links to all floors, disabled lifts to Interpretation centre and tearooms, souvenir shop.

Things To Do, See and Photograph:

 

What to take:

 

Nature highlights:

 

Address:

Project Manager
Moulton Windmill Project Ltd
571 Broadgate
Weston Hills
Spalding
Lincolnshire

Postcode:

PE12 6DB

Telephone:

At Mill 01406 373237,
Janet Prescott
01775 724429

Opening times:

Thursdays to Sundays all year plus

Bank Holiday Mondays 10.00 – 16.00.

Admission by guided tour only. (Last tour 15.15)

National Mills Weekend Saturday & Sunday, 10.00 – 16.00

Parties and functions welcome at other times by arrangement.

Charges:

Unknown - Council site says to be confirmed

Photo Restrictions:

None known

Other Restrictions:  
Special Needs Access:  
Special Needs Facilities: Tearooms, disabled toilets, disabled lifts to Interpretation centre and tearooms.
Children Facilities: baby changing
Dogs Allowed: No

CIN Page Ref:

moulton

Date Updated: 05/2008

Please let us know any other information that we can add to the Further information and Planning Grids or page and any errors that you discover. Before making a long trip to any location it is always wise to double check the current information, websites like magazines may be correct at the time the information is written, but things change and it is of course impossible to double check all entries on a regular basis. If you have any good photographs that you feel would improve the illustration of this page then please let us have copies. In referring to this page it is helpful if you quote the CIN Page Ref at the bottom of the Planning Grid above. To print the planning grid select it then right click and print the selected area.

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