Green’s Windmill, Nottingham

Green’s Windmill is a fully restored and working 19th-century tower mill located in the Sneinton area of Nottingham. Originally built around 1807 by a local baker, it later came under the ownership of George Green (1793–1841), a self-taught mathematical physicist whose groundbreaking work in electricity and magnetism would later influence thinkers like Einstein.

Despite his scientific genius, Green ran the windmill for much of his life, producing flour the old-fashioned way-powered entirely by wind. After his death, the mill continued operating until the 1860s, when newer, steam-powered mills rendered it obsolete. Over the next century, the mill experienced a patchwork history-turned into a boot polish factory, gutted by fire, and left to crumble-before being rescued by Nottingham City Council in 1979.

Following extensive restoration by millwrights Thompson’s of Alford and funding from the University of Nottingham, Green’s Mill reopened to the public in 1986. Today, visitors can watch the sails turn, see traditional flour milling in action, and even purchase the mill’s award-winning organic flour.

Next door, the small Science Centre brings George Green’s legacy to life, inviting visitors to experiment with electricity, light, and magnetism-just as he once did. Together, the mill and center form a unique blend of local heritage and scientific discovery, celebrating one of Nottingham’s most quietly brilliant minds.