Alford Windmill

The project will restore and reopen the mill as a major attraction, featuring a new visitor experience, café, and shop.

Holiday Let

Volunteer Opportunities

Working Windmill

Project Overview

This Grade 1 listed mill is an architectural marvel, standing over 30 metres tall and encompassing six floors. The mill, a testament to historical craftmanship and industrial ingenuity, continued its work until 1955, playing a significant role in the local economy and community.
With £1.1 million in funding, this historic mill, now listed on the Heritage at Risk register, will be restored and transformed into a major attraction. The project includes the development of a new visitor experience, complete with a café and shop, ensuring the mill’s preservation and revitalisation for future generations.

The Journey So Far

February 2024
Professional team appointments.
July 2024
Planning submitted.
October 2024
Planning committee.
October 2024
Planning permission granted.

Project Goals

The investment of £1.1 million will be allocated towards the refurbishment of the existing Millers Cottage into a premium holiday let and staff office, as well as the construction of a new visitors centre featuring a café and shop.

Visitor Centre

A new visitors centre incorporating a café and shop, will generate revenue to support ongoing maintenance and conservation, ensuring the historic Windmill site remains open as a visitor attraction.

Millers Cottage

Millers Cottage will be refurbished into a charming holiday let, and a modern office space for staff and trust operations.

Sail Shed Conversion

The former café, known as the Sail Shed, will be transformed into a dynamic eduational space where both school groups and adult visitors can learn about the 'farm-to-fork' principle.

Old Shop Conversion

The old shop & store will be transformed into a dedicated display area and storage space for the Thompson collection.

Enhancing Ecology

The site will feature enhanced ecology, attracting not only human visitors but also a variety of wildlife.

External Works

External enhancements to facilitate and enhance visitor flow throughout the site.

Proposed Plans for…

The Visitors Centre

Roof

Clay pantile covered pitched roofs.

Walls

Brick walls, laid in English Garden Wall bond.

Cladding

Vertical timber cladding above brick walls.

Windows

New aluminium framed windows and doors, with grey ironmongery. Painted finish colour- Grey.

Patio

Outdoor patio seating area for Visitor Centre customers, with view of the Windmill.

Millers Cottage

Render

Repaint and repair existing render.

Guttering & Downpipes

Replace existing PVC guttering and downpipes with aluminium guttering and downpipes.

Pantiles

Existing pantiles are to be cleaned and made good.

Roof

Roof insulation to be replaced with natural wool insulation.

Lights

Replace existing light fittings.

Windows

Joiner to repair sliding sash windows. Decorator to repaint.

Brickwork

Repair existing brickwork – Supply approx 60 bricks where bulging and remove root which is growing in the brickwork. Traditional line mortar.

Doors

Front doors to be refurbished with new door furniture and rim locks.

Sail Shed

Utilities

Sink unit & cabinets.

Furniture

Existing Millwright’s display cabinet relocated from Alford Manor House.

Furniture

Three sets of tables & chairs.

Roof

Three rooflights.

Windows

Two new windows.

Screen

Display screen to be used for educational purposes for school groups and adult visitors.

What this will mean for the building and the local community

These schemes have been put together in a way that respects the heritage of the sites as well as being ambitious to ensure they have a financially stable future and are attractive to residents, visitors and holidaymakers who may want to visit.

Cllr Graham MarshPortfolio Holder for Community Safety, Leisure and Culture and Carbon Reduction at ELDC

When the site has been completed, we can’t wait to open the redeveloped spaces for people to explore and enjoy, with the education centre for people to learn more about where their food comes from, a fantastic new holiday home for people to visit and a new bakery where visitors can sample quality local products.

John SmithAlford Windmill Trustee

This new funding, together with the vital commitment of Lincolnshire County Council to pay for the repair of Windmill itself, will provide the investment that is needed to fulfil that potential. We are all excited at the prospect of Alford becoming an important tourist destination rather than just a drive through.

Richard QuantrellAlford Manor House Trustee