Elphin Windmill, 18th-century tower windmill in County Roscommon, Ireland.
Elphin Windmill is a circular three-stage tower windmill from the 1700s with a rotating thatched roof and four wooden sails. A ground-level cartwheel mechanism transfers the wind-driven rotation to turn the internal grinding stones.
The structure was built around 1730 under the direction of the Bishop of Elphin to serve community grain milling and flax processing needs. These two functions were central to the region's agricultural economy of that time.
The mill demonstrates how grain was processed using wind power, a technique that shaped rural life for centuries. Visitors can observe the working methods that farmers once relied on daily.
The location can be reached through direct inquiry to arrange visits and learn about the working mechanisms of the structure. It is best to contact in advance to ensure a tour is available during your visit.
This is the only fully restored windmill of its kind in western Ireland and preserves a rare original design rarely seen elsewhere. The rotating thatched roof combined with the ground-level cartwheel system represents an unusual engineering approach specific to this location.
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