Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral Now and Then Bidston Hill - Windmill

A quick look through local history books and websites will tell you that there where numerous windmills on the Wirral and as Dava2479 has said the Wirral was an agricultural area, the reason Bidston windmill is so prominent in local history is that it is the only complete one left (structurally) and it helps that it is in one of the most prominent positions on the peninsular.

You chaps are right, of course. Let me remove my suggestion of a possible association between the Bidston windmill and the Rake Lane millstone (enough myths already). Instead, let the report of the Rake Lane stone just stand as a piece of information. It's there for all to see (well it was there a year ago).

Nice pic Greasby_lad,but no matter where this stone is from it`s such a shame it`s being used in this way instead of being put on loan or donated to a museum.

these stones are at a job i am involved with in moreton they are from bidston windmill dont fink they are actually millstones

wow, thats a well worn wheel, Im going up there today for a walk, i'll take some snaps !

Cool find Sonyj.

We will all have millstones round are necks by the time Gordon Brown gets voted out of office. ha ha

If you want to see a working mill I recommend a look at Llynnon Mill on Anglesey.

http://www.angleseyheritage.org/doc.asp?cat=1034

You can go right up to the top and some days they are actually grinding so you can see how its done.

They've also built some roundhouses on the land which are interesting to go look round. Kids would definitely like it. Not a bad price to pay either - always find Anglesey attractions a bit of a rip off - but this one was ok. The motor museum is definitely a rip off unless you absolutely have to see the cars etc. I have photos will post them up, from both the mill and the motor museum.

A mill stone has appeared recently at the sign in Bidston Hall Cottages (I think that they're called) that have recently been restored but has been pointed out before this could be from any number of Windmills that used to dot the Wirral.

If anyone's in Bidston village you can see it on the track that leads to Elenaor road past Bidston Hall.

yer seen it mate!

going up there later today so i will have a look ..cheers

Bidston Windmill will be open to the public this Saturday, 5th September, between 10:00am and noon.
Free admission, donations to the Friends group welcomed.
If it's a clear day, the views from the top are excellent.
The steps are ladder-style. There is a minimum height restriction i.e. no kids under a certain height which I think is 1.06m.
This will probably be the last open day this year (there's a possibility that it will be open on the first Saturday in October but - as said - this is only a possibility).