The lost windmills of Preston: a historical overview

In 1914 a pamphlet was published describing the windmills of the Fylde and Wyre, and including descriptions of nine Preston windmills. The pamphlet, written by a T. Harrison Myres, the son of the 19^th-century Preston surveyor John James Myres, was titled ‘Story of the Windmill Past and Present Historically Treated’. When he was writing only two mills, ‘stripped of their sails’, were still standing. There is now in 2026 only one: the Singleton Row Windmill, which Mr Myres names Windy Mill; it is now known as Craggs Row Windmill).

I’ve extracted the material relating to the nine Preston mills that Mr Myres identified and added it below. I’ve marked them on the 1840s Ordnance Survey map of Preston, and added a tenth, which Mr Myres was unaware of. This was to the south of the town and is shown on the 1665 plan of Preston. He also notes that the records of the Preston Court Leet in 1673 mention ‘ye Wind Mill, in Broad gate’. This was not the present Broadgate at the bottom of Fishergate Hill; in those days Broadgate was the name given to the lower stretch of Fishergate.

In 1685, according to the survey conducted that year, there were three windmills in the town: the one on Fishergate, the one south of Church Street and the one labelled Friargate Windmill on the map.

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A more detailed treatment of the history of Preston’s windmills can be found on Ashley Warren Preston’s website:

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Preston Corn Mills

T. Harrison Myres

I will give as far as I am able the history of the Preston corn windmills, which at one time adorned the neighbourhood. These are clearly shown on a map of Preston, surveyed and published by my father John James Myres, in the year 1836. An old Ordnance sheet five feet the mile, published 1846, shows the position of seven mills. A view of Preston engraved by Finden about the year 1820, from a painting by William Westall, A.R.A., as seen from Gallows Hill, looking south, shows four mills, and Mr. Hewitson in his “Court Leet Records” shows a map with four mills. In the “History of Preston,” by the late Colonel Fishwick, an illustration appears of the ancient town as seen from the hill at Penwortham looking north, shows seven mills. There seems to be a difference of opinion as to the actual number of mills formerly at work in Preston. In my many researches, conversations with old Prestonians, and access to -ancient maps, I am convinced there were nine mills.

It is a matter of considerable regret, that out of the several mills which prior to 1846 were in full swing, only the remains of two are left, and, although ancient landmarks, are simply round towers, stripped of their sails, fan sails, and general gearing, and now used for storing purposes. The six other old mills no doubt have been razed to the ground for town improvements, or for additions required to public buildings.

In describing our local mills, it will suffice if I take them as they have occurred to me, not in any order of merit or date. First, then, the mill called “Windy Mill,” standing high above the adjoining houses at the corner of Singleton’s-row, off Moor-lane. It was erected here about 1760, on high ground, so as to secure a good gust of wind. It contains seven strong oak floors, the walls being very thick and massive. The present owner, Mr. T. Garstang, uses the building as a rag and paper store warehouse. The original wheel for hoisting and lowering grain is still doing work, though of a different kind, but new ropes are from time to time obtained. The sails and general gearing were taken down and given to a bazaar committee, towards raising funds for general school extensions, which Preston was called upon to provide in the year 1882.

A good story has often been told in reference to the sign of Windy Mill Inn, which is only a stone’s throw from the mill, and no doubt took its name from the building then standing. The proprietor of the inn required the sign repainting. Having engaged a man to do the work, the bargain was that so much should be paid per letter, viz., a pint of beer. The employed, evidently a thirsty soul, painted an additional letter, as “whind,” thereby gaining an extra allowance.

Our second existing landmark is that known as “Kirkham’s Mill,” or Park-lane Mill, in Sedgwick-street, off North-road. It is similar in size, shape, and date of erection to the one just mentioned. It is simply a round tower, standing also on fairly high ground, now used for storage of grain. The ground landlord was Mr. Cunliffe-Shawe, an old Prestonian, who also owned a large area of land in the neighbourhood. In the “Notes and Queries” of “The Preston Guardian” appeared an account of a mishap which occurred to the mill during the height of a great gale which visited Preston the 26th October, 1863. Mr. Thomas Heyes, of North-road, was the then owner, and employed a number of men. They had just furled the sails to ease their working, when the storm came with a fearful crash. The sails and general gearing came down, doing great damage to adjoining houses, completely wrecking the roofs and furniture. One of the sails fell through the roof of St. Ignatius’ School. Happily no lives were lost, though it was almost a miracle so many people escaped injury.

The third mill (though not now in existence) was called Windy Mill, of the tower type, shown on old maps. The mill stood at the top of Mill Hill, a high piece of ground, about 50 yards north-west of the present mill buildings occupied by Mr. Shutt. The erection of the old mill is believed to have been about the year 1700. It was pulled down in 1848. The Ragged School, built 1853, and enlarged 1889, mainly covers the old mill site.

The fourth old mill, pulled down about 1907, after doing its work for over 150 years, was known by the name of “Parr’s Croft Mill,” on the west side of St. Thomas’s Church, now covered by the schools in connection with the parish. In former times the field on which the mill stood was called Moor-lane Field.

The fifth mill for many years stood on the east side of Trinity Church, Snow-hill. Visiting the site a short time ago, and again last week, I could not find a single trace of the foundations, but close by, in Mr. J. H. Pomfret’s clog iron works in Great Shaw-street, I discovered part of the floor was composed of large circular stones, evidently the grinding stones of the old mill. They are now very much worn away.

The sixth landmark of ancient mills of Preston, of which there are no remains, was no doubt at the end of Church-street now known as “Mill Bank.” The large field on which the mill stood was called Town End Field.

The seventh was at the south of Warwick-street, on an old field called Barnfield, off Moor-lane, now covered by the Gas Works. Formerly it was worked by Mr. Hull, afterwards by Mr. Philip Banks, and subsequently used to drive the machinery of an adjoining cotton mill. Not a vestige of the mill or its foundations is left to us.

The eighth landmark of the type of tower mill was between Lady-street and Margaret-street, a little north of Wesley Chapel, North-road. It was formerly worked for years by Mr. Thos. Horn. Afterwards it was bought and worked by Mr. Pritt. The old tower was pulled down in 1885, and a new steam automatic flour mill erected on the roller mill system, under Mr. J. F. Hind as engineer.

As to the ninth old mill, let me quote from Mr. Hewitson’s valuable publication, 1905, the “Preston Court Leet,” thus :— “Henry Wilding shall scower his ditch, and lay a new platt at ye end of his close, neare ye Wind Mill, in Broad gate, before ye ffirst of ffebr., upon paine of xxs.’ This took place October 15th, 1673. This windmill is not shown on any existing old map, but it is assumed from this order that there must in those early days have been a mill standing there.

It is greatly to be regretted that only two illustrations are obtainable of the nine Preston mills.