Worsdell's Mill

Site overview

Worsdell's Mill was a tower corn mill south of Waddington. It was built in 1820, replacing a former post mill on the site. The mill worked until about 1908 and then became derelict.

It had patent sails driving three pairs of stones, two grey and one French. The two remaining sails were removed in 1927, and the upper part of the tower was pulled down early in the Second World War because of the nearby airfield. The surviving remains now stand as a derelict shell beside the Viking Way on the Lincoln Cliff.

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

Worsdell's Mill stood south of Waddington and replaced an earlier post mill on the same site. The tower mill was built in 1820 and worked as a corn mill through the nineteenth century. Its machinery included patent sails driving three pairs of stones, two grey and one French.

The mill worked until about 1908, after which it was left to become derelict. By the early twentieth century only two sails remained, and these were removed in 1927. Photographs from the 1930s record the mill without sails.

The upper part of the tower was pulled down early in the Second World War because of its proximity to the airfield, leaving a reduced derelict shell. Later site photographs recorded the remains in 1977 and during a site visit in 2000. The surviving structure preserves the lower remnant of Worsdell's Mill within the open landscape south of Waddington, close to the Lincoln Cliff and the Viking Way.

Timeline

1820

Tower mill constructed

Worsdell's Mill was built in 1820, replacing a former post mill on the site.

1820–1908

Corn mill worked

The tower mill worked with patent sails driving three pairs of stones, two grey and one French.

1908

Mill ceased working

The mill worked until about 1908 and was then left to become derelict.

1927

Remaining sails removed

The two remaining sails were removed from the tower.

1934

Capless mill photographed

The mill was photographed without sails in June 1934.

1939–1945

Upper tower removed

The upper part of the tower was pulled down early in the Second World War because of its proximity to the airfield.

2000

Derelict shell surveyed

The derelict shell of the former mill was photographed during a site visit in 2000.

Sources and records

Lincolnshire Heritage Explorer monument record: Worsdell's Mill, Waddington
Windmill World site entry: Waddington windmill
Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology photograph catalogue: Waddington, Worsdall's Mill
Mills Archive catalogue item: Worsdell's Mill, Waddington, with no sails
Guy Blythman addenda to Lincolnshire windmill photographs