Lytham Windmill on Lytham Green

Lytham Windmill is situated on Lytham Green in the coastal town of Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England. Built around 1805 on land leased from the local landowner and squire to miller Richard Cookson, the tower mill was designed for grinding wheat and oats to make flour or bran. Some of the mill's machinery, including a 150-year-old mainshaft of Baltic oak, was salvaged from other local mills.

In 1919, a high wind overcame the mill's braking mechanism and the sails spun out of control, causing the mill to be burnt out. The interior was entirely gutted, and the mill remained derelict until 1921, when the squire, John T. Clifton, donated the building to the town. The shell was later restored, given a new cap, and a set of mock sails. It has served various purposes over the years, including as a cafe, a headquarters for the Lytham Cruising Club, and an Electricity Board sub-station.

The mill was designated a grade II listed building in 1951 and was totally restored by Fylde Borough Council in 1989. Today, the mill is run in partnership with Fylde Borough Council and Lytham Heritage Group. It is open to the public during the summer and contains a museum that explains the history and practice of flour milling.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons