This site is no longer updated.
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.
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Conservation
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Practical Work
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Research
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Education
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