Shirley Windmill, Tower mill in Shirley, London Borough of Croydon, England.
Shirley Windmill is a five-story brick tower mill in the London Borough of Croydon with original Victorian machinery from the 1800s still intact inside. The building holds two pairs of millstones and other gears that show how grain was ground into flour.
The building was constructed in 1854 after an earlier post mill on the same site was destroyed by fire. The owner Richard Alwen had the new brick structure built to continue grain processing operations.
The mill shows how people processed grain during the Victorian era and what role such buildings played in everyday life. The grinding work was central to the community and connected many workers and families together.
The building is normally closed to the public but opens for guided visits at special times throughout the year. It makes sense to check ahead when tours are available since entry is only possible with permission.
The mill was struck by lightning twice, which remains a remarkable part of its past that visitors learn about. The building survived these strikes and parts of the damaged equipment are kept as evidence of what happened.
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