Melin Newydd (Tre'rddol)

Melin Newydd, 2009

This mill is one of several on Anglesey that were converted into dwellings in the 2000s. This one has the distinction that the story of its conversion was featured in a Channel 4 TV program in April 2010 called "Restoration Man", hosted by George Clarke.

This mill was built in 1833, making it one of the last built on Anglesey. This date is inscribed over the doorway along with the initials OJAFM, which stands for Owen John Augustus Fuller Meyrick. He was the owner of the Bodorgan estate, one of the more prominent estates on the island. The mill itself stands on the estate, in Llandrygarn near the village of Trefor.

Melin Newydd
Window in upper room

Melin Newydd is Welsh for "New Mill". The name probably refers to this being a new mill compared to a nearby watermill, which has now disappeared.

The mill was run from the outset by Richard Roberts until his death in 1882, aged 83. It was then taken over by his son Rowland. He had the assistance of his nephew William Price Roberts, who was born in Cardiff, son of Rowland's elder brother Pierce, a railway porter. After Rowland's death in 1899 William took over as main miller. He was joined for a while by his brother Pierce Price Roberts, who was also a master mariner and was killed during the First World War when his ship Portloe was torpedoed.

In the early 1920s a storm caused so much damage that the mill was closed. A photo from 1929 shows the cap still intact and the remains of three arms of the sails. Eventually these were removed and the tower roofed with corrugated iron to provide a sheltering area for cattle. In 2006 planning permission was granted to turn the tower and neighbouring outbuildings into dwellings. This work was just being completed when the above photos were taken in September 2009.

The restored mill is now being rented out as a holiday home. See photos of the interior on their web site.

See other images of this windmill at: