The Black Giant of Elston
The Black Giant as a working mill
Picture the Past
During restoration by Mike Lawrence, 1978
Elston Mill today
Why isn't it black?
Elston Windmill
Extract from The Stamford Mercury of 2nd November, 1844
"On Friday last some men were raising the sails of a new mill at Elston when a prop which supported them gave way and the sails fell with a tremendous crash on a youth about fourteen years of age, literally burying his head in the earth, breaking his collar bone and otherwise seriously injuring him. There is no hope of his recovery".
Such was the violent birth of 'The Black Giant of Elston' - Elston Mill.
"...His head was literally buried in the earth... There is no hope of his recovery"
The mill was built in 1844 by Joseph Lee and was passed on through four generations of the same family until 1901 when it was sold to Colonel Darwin of Elston Hall.
Little is known beyond that date until William Gash bought the mill and adjoining house in 1919 from John Laughton.
Thereafter the story of the mill is linked to that of William Gash & Sons and the Elston Motor Company's 'bus services around the area.
In 1978 Pevsner (p.122) noted that it was being converted into a dwelling
At the time of writing (2014) the mill is currently up for sale. So if you fancy a rather unusual-shaped home and a lot of exercise, then now's your chance: 3 bedrooms, lots of stairs, 1 Victorian teenage ghost, £525k).