Green’s Windmill and Science Centre

Green’s Windmill is a restored and working 19th century tower windmill.  It was owned and operated in the 19th century by the mathematical physicist George Green.  You may tour the mill (especially on a windy day!) and discover the process of turning grain into flour.
All the flour from Green's Mill is organically grown and available at the mill shop or by mail order. Green's Windmill has won 'best flour' in the Soil Association Organic Food Awards in partnership with You magazine; 2001 Winner for wholemeal spelt flour, 2002 Winner for white spelt flour and Commended for wholemeal spelt flour. 

George Green was a mathematical genius who developed new ways of doing mathematics, which have helped scientists to understand the world around us. Test your brain power with the hands-on experiments in the Science Centre which explore electricity, magnetism and light, ideal for young children.

A Little History

When George Green was 14, his father built a windmill at Sneinton, then a separate village a mile or so from Nottingham. It was a fine five-storey brick tower mill with stables for eight horses and storage for hay and corn. Milling was a skilled trade and he employed a foreman-manager, William Smith, who lived in a cottage attached to the side of the mill. The mill could not easily be worked single-handed; George helped William Smith, and so learned to operate the mill himself. This must have been an exciting change from the bakery for a boy of 14, and it would have been a strenuous, mostly outdoor life. When there was wind enough, he would have worked long hours even at night trimming the sails, maintaining the inflow of grain and taking away the milled flour or cattle fodder. As the Greens were still living in Nottingham, it seems likely that George might have stayed overnight with the Smiths or perhaps slept in the mill rather than walking back through the dark and probably dangerous streets of overcrowded Nottingham.

Many people and organisations have contributed to this project. It was effectively launched in 1974 by a telegram to the Lord Mayor of Nottingham from the 500 delegates at an International Physics Conference in Budapest and it was appropriate that a telegram of thanks could be sent from a similar conference, also in Budapest, in the autumn of 1985. The national scientific societies have been very supportive and the Institute of Physics can be singled out for its generous donation towards the scientific exhibits. Altogether, the George Green Memorial Fund raised nearly £40,000 towards the project, including the purchase of the mill in 1979, but the major contributor by far was the City of Nottingham. The success of these efforts and the publicity the project has received throughout the world has ensured that George Green has at last had the recognition he was so sadly denied in his lifetime.
 
Collection details
Industry, Science and Technology, Social History

Description
Once home of the mathematical physicist, George Green (1793-1841). Since we opened in 1985 over 855,000 people have enjoyed the opportunity to look around a working windmill, buy some award-winning flour, take part in an activity, get their hands on some fun science, admire the views over the Trent valley and enjoy a cup of coffee in the millyard. If you haven't been up to Green's Mill yet do come and see what we have to offer. 

Disability Access
Toilets for disabled 
 
General Education
Education facilities available 
 
Facilities
Facilities for private functions and events
Meeting room available
Shop 

Opening Days  Opening Times 
Monday to Tuesday  Closed 
Wednesday to Sunday  10.00 - 4.00pm 
Bank Holidays  10.00 - 4.00pm 
Christmas  Closed 24 - 27th December and 1st January. 

Admissions  Free