Lincolnshire is a large English county and, being mainly level and low-lying, is ideal windmill country. The total number of windmills to have stood in the county at the peak of the windmill’s popularity in the early 19th century can only be guessed at without conducting extensive research; including Fenland pumping windmills there were probably more than 500.

Being essentially rural in character with few large industrial towns, the small country windmill was able to hold its own against the large power driven town flour and animal feed mills with the result that Lincolnshire was one of the last areas to use wind power to any extent. A side effect of this is that large numbers of windmills have survived to the present day. This late survival has been aided by the fact that the tower mill, the most durable type of windmill, had become common in Lincolnshire by the early 19th century, whereas in a county such as Suffolk, where post mills and smock mills were more popular, very few mills have survived due to their inability to remain intact without maintenance.

In Lincolnshire today can be found the remains of 136 windmills, only two of which were not corn grinding mills. Indeed, some are in full working order and still producing flour for sale. Some have tearooms where you can eat cakes made from the stoneground flour and one even has its own bakery with wood-fire ovens.

For further information please phone 01522 782040 for a Lincolnshire Mill leaflet or visit our website.

www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/windmills