Windmill to work again as sails restored

A 19th Century windmill can now get back to working order after having its sails put back on.

The milestone at Waltham Windmill, near Grimsby in North East Lincolnshire, completes restoration work that included a year of repairs to its rotting cap.

It is now hoped the mill, which was built between 1878 and 1880 and believed to be one of only a handful that still operates in the area, can return to milling flour again.

Mike Date, chairman of the Waltham Windmill Preservation Society, said the mill was "an emblem of the village".

Speaking on BBC Radio Humberside, Date said the sails were carefully restored using a crane and the society was looking forward to seeing it in working action.

"We want to get back to being able to mill flour again, it'll be great," he said.

"We're itching to get going with it."

Date added the mill was an "iconic building" in Waltham and "the last mill to be built in Lincolnshire".

"It's an emblem of the village. The school's got it on their badges," he added.

"People will be wanting to come and see the mill back in action."

The mill will open over the Easter weekend for visitors with the sails proudly back in place.

It is looked after by the preservation society and was awarded a £63,120 grant to carry out the work by Historic England after being put on its "at risk" register.

Suffolk Millwrights previously repaired the cap, which houses the machinery and sails and rotates to allow the sails to face into the wind, in August 2024 after it was removed along with the sails.

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