Bidston Windmill

The current Bidston Windmill was built on Bidston Hill on the Wirral Peninsula, Merseyside, in about 1800 and continued working as a flour mill until 1875.

It is believed that there has been a windmill on this site since 1596. The previous one was destroyed by fire in 1793. The mill is ideally placed to catch the wind, but difficult to access by cart.

There is a plaque on the windmill that reads as follows:

:This land, including the woods surrounding this windmill, containing with the adjacent piece of land known as Thermopylae about 90 acres was purchased from RG de Grey Vyner during the years 1894 to 1908 at a cost of £30,310. Of this sum the Corporation of Birkenhead contributed £14,625 and £15,685 was raised by public subscription. A portion of this land, viz the eastern wood containing 22 acres, was purchased as a memorial of the late Edmund Taylor, of Oxton, in recognition of his great services in connection with the acquisition of Bidston Hill for the benefit of the public. The land belongs to and is maintained at the expense of the Corporation of Birkenhead. But according to the deeds of conveyance it must always be used as an open space and place of public recreation and must be preserved and maintained, so far as possible, in its present wild and natural condition. Special care being given to preservation of the trees, gorse, heath and also of this windmill. Bye laws have been made and a keeper and assistant appointed so that they are observed. The public, for whose enjoyment alone the land was secured, are invited to aid in preserving it from fire and damage. AD MCMIX. This tablet restored 1971.

External links

* [http://www.wirral.gov.uk/LGCL/100006/200073/670/content_0001104.html Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council: Bidston Windmill]
* [http://www.mikekemble.com/mside/bidstonmill.html Bidston Windmill: article & pictures]