Ballycopeland Windmill

Ballycopeland Windmill
Ballycopeland Windmill
Origin
Mill location	Millisle, County Down
Coordinates	54°36′29″N 5°33′24″W / 54.60806°N 5.55667°W / 54.60806; -5.55667Coordinates: 54°36′29″N 5°33′24″W / 54.60806°N 5.55667°W / 54.60806; -5.55667
Operator(s)	Department for Communities
Information
Purpose	Corn mill
Type	Tower mill
Storeys	Four storeys
No. of sails	Four
Type of sails	Roller reefing sails
Winding	Fantail
Fantail blades	Eight

Ballycopeland Windmill is a functioning windmill located one mile west of Millisle, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is managed by the Historic Environment Division of the Department for Communities and is open to the public.^[1] It is known in Irish as Muileann gaoithe Bhaile Chóplainn and in Ulster-Scots as Ballycopelann Wun-mäll.^[2] Ballycopeland is currently closed to the public, though works are due to begin in early September 2020 for restoration of the mill and a new Visitor Centre. Work is estimated to end in May 2021.

Features[]

The visitor centre at the miller’s house features an electrically operated model of the mill and hands-on experience of milling. There is also a restored corn-drying kiln.^[3]

History[]

The plastered and white-washed tapering tower is a landmark in that area and the last remaining windmill of more than hundred mills in County Down.^[4] It was owned by the McGilton family and the mill ground grain until 1915. In 1935 it was acquired by the government of Northern Ireland.^[5] Disused for many decades, in 1978, the old windmill was restored to working order again.

References[]

External links[]

• Virtual visit to Ballycopeland Windmill