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Whitewashed tower mill in use
The tower mill worked as a corn mill and had brickwork protected with whitewash rather than tar.
Site overview
Grebby Mill is a former tower windmill at Grebby in Scremby parish. It was built in 1812, replacing an earlier post mill that had been demolished in the same year. The tower is unusual for Lincolnshire because its brickwork was protected with whitewash rather than tar.
Historic images show the mill as a complete tower windmill with ogee cap, sails, and fantail. The cap and most of the machinery were removed in 1963, and the building was later converted into residential use. The mill remains a visible landmark in the rural landscape between Louth, Alford, and Spilsby.
Map
Map markers and directions links are provided for location reference only and do not indicate public access or permission to enter a site.
No site photograph is currently available. Images will be added as field visits are carried out.
History
Grebby Mill stands at Grebby in Scremby parish. A post mill stood at Grebby before the present tower was built, and that earlier mill was demolished in 1812. The tower mill was built in the same year. It is a distinctive Lincolnshire survival because its brickwork was protected by whitewash rather than the tarred finish more commonly used on many county tower mills.
The mill worked as a wind-powered corn mill. Historic paintings, postcards, and photographs show it as a complete tower mill with an ogee cap, sails, and fantail. A Muggeridge Collection photograph taken on 12 September 1946 recorded the mill after the end of its main working life but before later loss of major external fabric.
In 1963 the cap and most of the machinery were removed. The former mill was later converted into a house, preserving the tower in a new use. Grebby Mill remains one of the more visually recognisable rural windmill survivals in the Lincolnshire Wolds-edge landscape, marking a site where wind-powered milling is recorded from the earlier post mill through to the surviving converted tower.
Timeline
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Converted to residential use
The former tower mill was later converted into residential use.
1812
Earlier post mill demolished
The earlier post mill at Grebby was demolished in 1812.
1812
Tower mill built
Grebby Mill was built in 1812.
1946
Mill photographed
The tower mill was photographed on 12 September 1946, showing a three-quarter front view.
1963
Cap and machinery removed
The cap and most of the machinery were removed from the mill in 1963.
Sources and records
Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology Grebby Mill records
Lincolnshire Heritage Explorer monument record
Muggeridge Collection photographic record
Windmill World site entry
Mills Archive catalogue entry
Geograph photograph record
Lincolnshire Windmills by Peter Dolman
Lincolnshire Heritage Explorer monument record
Muggeridge Collection photographic record
Windmill World site entry
Mills Archive catalogue entry
Geograph photograph record
Lincolnshire Windmills by Peter Dolman