Waltham Windmill
Encyclopedia
Waltham Windmill is a six-sailed windmill
located in the village of Waltham
, five miles from Grimsby
in North East Lincolnshire
. It is renowned in the area for having all six sails still in full working capacity, being one of the very few windmills like this in the United Kingdom
.
The first mill on this site was built in 1666 and was a trestle post mill
. The location was well set on the Brigsley Road with good transport into Grimsby
and out towards the farms of the Lincolnshire Wolds
. This mill was blown down in 1744, but soon replaced with another post mill to continue the job of the old. Unfortunately for the residents of the area, this one suffered a similar fate, being blown down in 1873.
Construction of the one that stands today began in 1878 and was completed by the accomplished water-colour painter John Saunderson from Louth, Lincolnshire
in 1880. (A painting of Louth Parish Church (south elevation) remains to this day in his descendants family.) The new windmill was constructed of local brick and coated with a layer of tar as a seal against the elements. The six-storied mill had a greater capacity than the previous post mills and featured 6 double-sided sails, driving four pairs of grinding stones for the production of flour (two so-called greystones (peak stones, cut from rock of the Peak District
) and two French quartzite
stones).
It is said that during World War II whilst RAF Grimsby
was being constructed the Air Ministry
saw the Windmill as a possible waypoint for German Bombers. They went to see the Farmer who owned the mill and told him they would destroy it along with the Grimsby Dock Tower
and Binbrook Windmill. The farmer then went to get his shotgun and chased them off his land and they only returned to construct the W.A.A.F. canteen. Grimsby Dock Tower
survived due to it holding a Royal Navy
wireless transmitter, however Binbrook Windmill was demolished.
By 1962, Waltham Windmill was one of the last windmills in England to be fully operational by wind, but from this point until 1967, it was powered by electricity.
Within the grounds of the windmill, there are a miniature railway, a museum dedicated to Rural Life and an old sweet shop selling favourites from the 1920s to the 1970s. The windmill is still standing, and is funded by the Waltham Windmill Preservation Society and the Waltham Windmill Trust and various events are held throughout the year ranging from Car-Boot Sales, Classic Car Rallys and also Airshows.
The Windmill is also used as the symbol for Waltham's Infant and Junior Schools logos.
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Source: Great Grimsby Library Records Office
Windmill
A windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. Originally windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history the windmill was adapted to many other industrial uses. An important...
located in the village of Waltham
Waltham, Lincolnshire
Waltham is a village and civil parish in North East Lincolnshire, England. It is south-west of Grimsby and is close to the villages of Scartho, Brigsley, Barnoldby-le-Beck, and Bradley...
, five miles from Grimsby
Grimsby
Grimsby is a seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. It has been the administrative centre of the unitary authority area of North East Lincolnshire since 1996...
in North East Lincolnshire
North East Lincolnshire
North East Lincolnshire is a unitary authority in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, bordering the unitary authority of North Lincolnshire and the administrative county of Lincolnshire...
. It is renowned in the area for having all six sails still in full working capacity, being one of the very few windmills like this in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Construction
Post mill
The post mill is the earliest type of European windmill. The defining feature is that the whole body of the mill that houses the machinery is mounted on a single vertical post, around which it can be turned to bring the sails into the wind. The earliest post mills in England are thought to have...
. The location was well set on the Brigsley Road with good transport into Grimsby
Grimsby
Grimsby is a seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. It has been the administrative centre of the unitary authority area of North East Lincolnshire since 1996...
and out towards the farms of the Lincolnshire Wolds
Lincolnshire Wolds
The Lincolnshire Wolds is a range of hills in the county of Lincolnshire, England. It is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty , and the highest area of land in eastern England between Yorkshire and Kent...
. This mill was blown down in 1744, but soon replaced with another post mill to continue the job of the old. Unfortunately for the residents of the area, this one suffered a similar fate, being blown down in 1873.
Construction of the one that stands today began in 1878 and was completed by the accomplished water-colour painter John Saunderson from Louth, Lincolnshire
Louth, Lincolnshire
Louth is a market town and civil parish within the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England.-Geography:Known as the "capital of the Lincolnshire Wolds", it is situated where the ancient trackway Barton Street crosses the River Lud, and has a total resident population of 15,930.The Greenwich...
in 1880. (A painting of Louth Parish Church (south elevation) remains to this day in his descendants family.) The new windmill was constructed of local brick and coated with a layer of tar as a seal against the elements. The six-storied mill had a greater capacity than the previous post mills and featured 6 double-sided sails, driving four pairs of grinding stones for the production of flour (two so-called greystones (peak stones, cut from rock of the Peak District
Peak District
The Peak District is an upland area in central and northern England, lying mainly in northern Derbyshire, but also covering parts of Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, and South and West Yorkshire....
) and two French quartzite
Quartzite
Quartzite is a hard metamorphic rock which was originally sandstone. Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tectonic compression within orogenic belts. Pure quartzite is usually white to gray, though quartzites often occur in various shades of pink...
stones).
Later years
In the 1920s, the sails were reconstructed to single-sided sails to increase its efficiency in light winds.It is said that during World War II whilst RAF Grimsby
RAF Grimsby
RAF Grimsby was initially opened as a satellite station for RAF Binbrook in November 1941. The station was officially named RAF Grimsby although the name of the nearby village Waltham was used by locals and servicemen.-History:...
was being constructed the Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
saw the Windmill as a possible waypoint for German Bombers. They went to see the Farmer who owned the mill and told him they would destroy it along with the Grimsby Dock Tower
Grimsby Dock Tower
Grimsby Dock Tower is a hydraulic accumulator tower and a famous maritime landmark in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, England. It was completed on 27 March 1852 with the purpose of containing a 30,000 UK gallon hydraulic wrought iron reservoir at a height of , to provide hydraulic power to...
and Binbrook Windmill. The farmer then went to get his shotgun and chased them off his land and they only returned to construct the W.A.A.F. canteen. Grimsby Dock Tower
Grimsby Dock Tower
Grimsby Dock Tower is a hydraulic accumulator tower and a famous maritime landmark in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, England. It was completed on 27 March 1852 with the purpose of containing a 30,000 UK gallon hydraulic wrought iron reservoir at a height of , to provide hydraulic power to...
survived due to it holding a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
wireless transmitter, however Binbrook Windmill was demolished.
By 1962, Waltham Windmill was one of the last windmills in England to be fully operational by wind, but from this point until 1967, it was powered by electricity.
The Windmill Today
Trivia
In 2001 the windmill cap and sails were removed so that they could be restored and repainted.The Windmill is also used as the symbol for Waltham's Infant and Junior Schools logos.
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Source: Great Grimsby Library Records Office