North West Mills Group
a non-profit voluntary society established in 1981
promoting
Watermills and Windmills
in the North West of England

The early villages and townships in North West England were largely independent and self-supporting in food. Most parishes had a watermill or windmill to grind their corn. The corn was often oats, particularly in the cooler, damper north. At the beginning of the Industrial Revolution the power to drive woollen and cotton mills was also provided by waterwheels.

Water power was also put to many other uses such as to drive sawmills, wood turning machines and mine machinery. Some of these mills still survive and a number of dedicated enthusiasts are trying to preserve them by various means, either as working mills or museums.

This website is a brief guide to many of these mills. We hope it will enable you to discover them and share our enjoyment.