An East Yorkshire Landmark just outside Beverley will give visitors a chance to have a glimpse behind the scenes.
In a series of special openings, Skidby Windmill will be revealing a previously unseen aspect of the building.
During its operation, the mill used massive sets of stones to grind grain into flour on its stone floor.
In small numbers, volunteers will offer visitors the opportunity to visit the stone floor of the mill and learn more about its workings.
The museum registrar of the council, Dr. David Marchant, said:
“As the mill is currently not working, whilst we await the return of the sails, we wanted to offer visitors a little extra ‘behind the scenes’. So we are trialling some Saturday openings of the stone floor over the winter period initially.
“Because of the limited size of the space, groups are limited to four people at a time and we advise all visitors to wear appropriate footwear, such as boots or trainers, as the visit will involve climbing a steep ladder. I’d like to thank members of the Skidby Mill / Hessle Mill volunteer team who have generously given their time to make these visits possible.”
East Yorkshire Landmark Built Over 100 Years Ago
This mill was originally built in 1821, but it was further extended in 1870 to its current height of five stories. The sails are 11 meters long, and it was used for commercial purposes until 1966.
As a result of newly installed electric rollers, the mill was used between 1954 and 1966 to grind animal feedstuff, as well as to produce stoneground flour.
Having been purchased by the local council in 1969 for £1, the mill was renovated and opened as a working museum in 1974. This is the last English windmill north of the Humber that produces stoneground wholemeal flour.
The stone floor openings will take place on Saturday, 5 November, Saturday, 3 December, and Saturday, 7 January.
These sessions will run on each of these dates from 10am to 12.30pm in the morning, and from 1.00pm to 3.00pm in the afternoon.
Admission to the mill and the rest of the site will remain the same on each of these Saturdays.
For more information, visit https://www.eastridingmuseums.co.uk/.
