Building record 28/1 - Willaston Mill, Mill Lane, Willaston

<1> Department of the Environment, 1971-2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, p.39 (Report). SCH1934.

Willaston Mill, Mill Lane: c.1800AD. A 110ft high, 5-stage, red-brick mill. Circular, tapering upwards, headers every 5 courses. Remains of rendered surface in places, weather-boarded cowl-shaped roof (formerly rotating) with cross-arms of sail junctions, near-flush frame windows restored. Interior converted into a dwelling.

<2> Bryan E.C. & Morris D, 1997, Willaston's Heritage (Second Edition) (Book). SCH3852.

In 1860 AD a steam power source was installed to improve efficiency, which was replaced around 1900 AD by a gas power source. A tall chimney was built to accommodate waste steam and smoke. Around 1900 AD milling of flower ceased and the mill only dealt with cattle feed from then on. Milling ceased in 1930 when the sails were damaged in a storm and sawn off. The mill tower was used as a look out by the Home Guard during the WWII. In 1946 a number of derelict out building were demolished. Converted to a dwelling in 1958, the bakery, stables and cart house are still standing, also converted to dwellings.

<3> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, Vol 20, p.194, Abraham E M, 1903 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

This tower mill succeeded a peg mill located 30yrds to the west (SMR 28).

<4> Historic England, 2011, The National Heritage List for England, 1387688 (Web Site). SCH6528.

Grade II listed windmill, now dwelling. 1805. Red brick laid to English Garden Wall bond with wooden cap. Circular on plan. EXTERIOR: 5-stage tapering tower on basement. Lifting doorways fitted with French windows; windows are replacement multi-pane casements. Openings are segment arched. Boat shaped cap to which sail cross arms, starting wheel and gantry remain. INTERIOR: the machinery which formerly rotated the cap remains in the upper stage but the mill was already in use as a dwelling in 1962.

<5> Mr J.T. O'Neil, 1993, Willaston Mill Correspondence, 03/11/1993 (Written Communication). SCH9422.

Correspondence concerning Willaston Mill including sale details with plans (Sept, 1993), photographs (Oct, 1993) and other sources of information for the mill.

<6> Unknown, 1983-1999, The Wirral Journal, Vol 1, No.5, Spring 1983, 'The Windmills of Wirral', p.33-5 (Journal/Periodical). SCH9213.

Willaston Mill, circa 1800, was the largest of the Wirral windmills. It is likely that mills have stood on this site since the fourteenth century; an enquiry in 1321 decided that permission would be granted for the erection of a mill here; this and earlier mills would have been wooden post or peg mills. The extant five storey brick building was built by William Lightbound; his father had owned the previous windmill (which stood some thirty yards to the west of the current mill). The ground floor housed four sets of grinding stones and the top floor five sets, all driven by wind power. Inside the mill, on the second floor, were wooden boards with the inscriptions 'God's providence hath been my inheritance' and 'God bless the good old mill'. An inscription on the cellar ceiling reads 'Moses Smith, 1817'. In the later years of the nineteenth century strong gales damaged the sails of both Eastham and Willaston mills, the landlord who owned both mills, used the sails of Eastham mill to repair those of Willaston. The main driving shaft at Willaston was cut from a single block of Greenheart tiimber circa 50 feet in length and 2 feet square. The mill was used by the Home Guard as a look out post during the war. The mill was sold at auction in 1933.