Site overview

Grainthorpe Mill is a former tower corn mill at Grainthorpe. The mill probably dates from the early nineteenth century and originally had roller-reefing sails and hand winding. In 1895 it lost its cap and sails in a tailwind.

It was rebuilt with an additional storey, a fantail, and four patent sails, with work carried out by Saunderson of Louth. The mill ceased work around 1930 and lost its sails around 1934. The sails, cap, and most of the machinery were removed shortly before the Second World War.

The tower has since been reduced in height, but the surviving structure remains a visible record of Grainthorpe's wind-powered corn-milling history.

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

Grainthorpe Mill, also recorded as Borman's Mill, was a tower corn mill at Grainthorpe. It probably dates from the early nineteenth century. In its earlier form it had roller-reefing sails and was hand wound, a traditional arrangement before later alteration.

A major change followed damage in 1895, when the mill lost its cap and sails in a tailwind. The mill was rebuilt, gaining another storey, a fantail, and four patent sails. The rebuilding work was carried out by Saunderson of Louth. This gave the mill a more modern late nineteenth-century working arrangement, with automatic winding by fantail and patent sails rather than its earlier hand-wound form.

The mill had three pairs of stones and continued to work until about 1930. It lost its sails around 1934. The sails, cap, and most of the machinery were removed shortly before the Second World War. Later records show the tower as a reduced survival, with the added top storey removed and most of the machinery gone. Grainthorpe Mill now survives as a shortened tower, preserving the footprint and mass of a village tower mill whose working life extended from the early nineteenth century into the early twentieth century.

Timeline

Three-pair corn mill in use

The tower corn mill worked with three pairs of stones.

Reduced tower survives

The tower survives in reduced height after the loss of the added top storey and most of the machinery.
1800–1833

Tower mill built

Grainthorpe Mill probably dates from the early nineteenth century.
1895

Cap and sails lost in tailwind

The mill lost its cap and sails in a tailwind in 1895.
1895

Mill rebuilt with patent sails

The mill was rebuilt with an added storey, a fantail, and four patent sails, with work carried out by Saunderson of Louth.
1930

Mill ceased working

Grainthorpe Mill ceased work around 1930.
1934

Sails lost

The mill lost its sails around 1934.
1939

Cap and machinery removed

The sails, cap, and most of the machinery were removed shortly before the Second World War.

Sources and records

Geograph photograph record
Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology image record
Windmill World site entry
Mills Archive site record
List of windmills in Lincolnshire