Melin Llynon, or Llynon Mill, is a gristmill located on the outskirts of the village of Llanddeusant on the island of Anglesey. It is the only surviving working windmill in Wales.
Founding
The mill was built for £529, 11s in 1775–1776, on land owned by the surgeon Herbert Jones. It is classified as a tower mill. The machinery is within a stone tower and the moving top, or cap cwch, turns so that the sails hwyliau catch the wind from any direction. The tower was 9.3 metres tall and with four floors. It was used to drive machines for grinding corn, oats and barley. The first miller, Thomas Jones (1756–1846), worked it until his death. The position of miller was passed down through the generations, eventually going to a cousin William Pritchard. It is now the only working windmill in Anglesey and Wales. Also within the site is a reconstruction of an Iron Age roundhouse hut building.
Damage
A storm in 1918 damaged the cap stopping it from turning to face the wind. It still operated intermittently for the next six years when the wind was from the southwest. Eventually the mill closed and became increasingly dilapidated. It remained deserted and unused until the local council restored it between 1978 and 1986. It reopened in 1986 and now produces stoneground flour.
Reconstruction and ownership
The windmill was previously reconstructed in the 1980s by the Isle of Anglesey County Council. Llynnon Mill is currently owned by Richard Holt and his family who purchased the mill in 2019, prior to the business venture Richard, a native of Angelsey was a pastry chef in London, England. His partner, sister, and father all work at the mill as part of the family business. Also at the site is a chocolate factory and donut (Mônuts) shop. Llynon Mill also teamed with the Llanfairpwll distillery to create a gin alcoholic beverage. And there is a model saffari on site. And also a reconstruction of an Iron Age roundhouse.