Melin Cemaes Windmill
Melin Cemaes can be found on the road from Llanfechell to Cemaes Bay, which is ironically named ‘Ffordd Y Felin’ (The Mill Way) and was built in 1828.
According to the Llanbadrig parish register the miller in 1836 was a Mr John Jones.
Towards the end of the 1920’s Melin Cemaes was only one of several windmill that still worked on Anglesey.
Although it still had it’s ‘cap and four sails’ it’s ability to rely on wind power had diminished. A diesel engine was installed for a while and allowed it to be a productive mill through the Second World War.
By 1946, the sails had gone, but the cap was still intact which protected the interior and machinery. Some eight years later in 1954 Anglesey County Council were looking to fully restore one of the handful of Anglesey windmills.
As this mill still had all the machinery in working order and still being in a ‘reasonable’ condition it was considered a candidate for full restoration along with Melyn Llynon in Llandeusant, unfortunately Melin Cemaes would have been too expensive to restore and Melin Llynon was chosen.
As the years passed Melin Cemaes continued to deteriorate, the milling mechanism and workings was sold for scrap, like many others, the roof which was renewed in 1939, was in a very sorry state of repair and consequently the floors inside collapsed.
After several years of being derelict, the then owner applied for and was granted planning permission to turn it into a residence. Today it boast a slate roof and even a chimney.
After several years of building works Melin Cemaes was put up for sale.