Calls to save Lincoln’s only surviving windmill
‘Let us save a priceless windmill before it’s too late’
Volunteers who want to restore a historic windmill are calling on the council to make a decision soon.
Ellis Mill is Lincoln’s only surviving windmill, and the group fears that it is slipping into worse condition with an estimated £500,000 worth of repairs needed.
Lincolnshire County Council is considering what to do with the 200-year-old mill.
The Ellis Mill Rescue Group says that time is of the essence in preserving the historic structure.
Lynn Ritson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We’re willing to take it over, but we need the council to make a decision.
“We’ve been told this could be as long as October. Meanwhile it’s deteriorating rapidly.
“A lot of people think Ellis Mill is worthy of saving. It’s a cultural asset which could be a tourist attraction and an educational opportunity.
“Lincoln Castle has recently had £12 million of extra funding. The mill would only take £1 million, if that, to get it up and running again.”
A landmark on Mill Road is the last of nine windmills which once stood on Lincoln’s hill.
Another volunteer group which helped to maintain it disbanded during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the mill’s condition has deteriorated ever since.
The Rescue Group were invited by the council to submit a business case, which they did last month.
If successful, they would form a registered charity trust which can apply for funding from sources such as the lottery and Historic England.
A survey carried out in 2021 listed over £500,000 of work that would be required, mainly to the roof and sails.
However, the group believes that it could be restored into working order again.
Rob Gibson, Deputy Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, said: “The council owns four windmills – each one is in a different condition with different management arrangements.
“We are looking at what the options are for each of these sites. We’ve been pleased to have been in talks with interested groups to give the mills a sustainable future and this work is almost completed.
“A windmill strategy will be proposed for further engagement in the coming months and we will then be in a position to take decisions on how we progress.”
Ellis Mill was originally restored by Lincoln Civic Trust in the 1970s, and was eventually handed over to Lincolnshire County Council in 1995.
However, the council is currently reviewing what to do with the four windmills it owns in Lincoln, Alford, Heckington and Burgh-le-Marsh.