Harrock Old Windmill

The fascinating ruins of an old windmill used for milling corn. The windmill on Harrock Hill is of a peculiar construction, it seems a ridge of what looks like rough rock was cut through then walled off at either end with a stone arched gateway, while a stone tower was build above the central portion - in fact the “walls” on either side can be seen to be bare rock faces, although brambles obscure the view on the westerly wall. This creates a below-ground storey beneath the windmill tower, which would have had a rotatable wooden structure on top with the sails on one side. The walls have many sockets for the old wooden floor beams on several levels.

Mentioned as far back as 1660:

“Capital messuage and tenement with appurtenances in Wrightington called Harrock Hall; windmill in Wrightington called Harrock mill, with a kiln adjoining, and all toll, soken and mulcture; messuage in tenure of Richard Ashton, 24s.” - Papers of the Rigbye family of Harrock Hall, Wrightington (The National Archives).

To use more familiar language “soken and mulcture”, would relate to the tenant having the right to mill corn and to take a twentyfourth part of all grain milled. A messuage being a cottage or house with land and other buildings often used for farming or industry.

A good portion of the tower is still upstanding having been retouched in the 1960s, now fenced but easy to access with perhaps a risk of falling masonary. Various holes for doors at ground level and windows can be seen in the tower walls although in one place blockwork has been incongruously built-up to the inside stone siding of a window, and the wall below the fenced area at ground level seems to have been taken down to a flat edge, probably for safety. The strange doubling of entrances on either side suggest Lancashires first drive-thru windmill or joking aside the mill must have been very busy in its day.

Harrock Mill was already out of use by the time of the OS map surveyed in the 1840s and shown as a shell or derelict building and listed as Harrock Old Windmill. But, according to Chris Denny (Chris Denny / Remains of windmill, Harrock Hill /) the windmill is said to have been destroyed by fire in the 1880s - One may then assume that although derelict most of the structure was standing until that point.

Harrock Old Windmill is a great little explore and a short circular walk can be added over the summit of next hill to the South and back round or further afield. Despite the signage, lots of dogs off-leads and hassle, although some of the paths are perhaps the muddiest I’ve seen.

Created: 2  February  2020  Edited: 29  November  2023