Bircham Windmill

13/10/2026

So the cap is off Bircham Windmill now and she has a cute little sailors cap on while waiting for her new cap. Work on the old cap is well underway. We’re not putting time pressure on-it will be finished when it’s done but expect it to be in the first half of 2027.
Thank you for all your support this year. It’s your support that has generated the funds needed to restore this mill and we are very grateful.
Thanks too to all of you who came along on the day to see the cap being lifted off. A truly historic moment.
We reopen on March 25th 2027. See you all then!! Elly xx

30/09/2026

It’s our last (official) day of the year.
We’ve got all your favourites and mountains of doughnuts!
Everything freezes really well, so why not buy a few for a Christmas morning treat!

We are closed tomorrow(Thursday) but our tearooms is open on Friday October 2nd as it’s our BIG DAY and we are taking the cap of the windmill off with a huge crane. Super excited, You are welcome to come and watch and the tearooms will be serving as full a menu as we can manage (we will have to vacate when the boom is over the roof!). The lift will take place in the morning. Anytime after 9am-exact times are hard to predict.

Thank you all for your amazing support this year. You’ve been fabulous customers and we will miss you over the winter months.
We reopen on March 25th 2027. Elly ######x

24/09/2026

So that’s the second stock down. We’re ready now to take off the cap for repairs. It’s been a really exciting day here and we’re thrilled that the work is well underway now.

Some may say that the mill looks a little sad now but to me she looks like a beautiful lady waiting for her new dress. 👗!

We are still open, (next Wednesday is our last day of the season) and visitors can still climb to the top of the mill, so do come and ring the bell at the top of the mill and enjoy our last few days of 2026 summer season.

The cap is coming off on October 2nd weather permitting and the tearooms will be open that day too.
Thanks everyone. Elly xx

22/09/2026

Here’s the link for anyone wishing to follow the windmill Cystic Fibrosis tour.

Thank you for the shares and donations so far. We're 2 week off charging the cameras and setting off but we're already over half way to our Just Giving target! You'll be able to follow the journey here, and it would be great to meet you at Eskdale show at the end. If you see us pushing it through the village feel free to help, it will have been a long 5 days 😅

https://www.justgiving.com/page/daniel-whittle-1990?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=lc_frp_share_transaction_fundraiser_page_launched

22/09/2026

I have just met Dan Whittle and his friend Ricky who are touring 26 windmills on a 1001 mile round trip to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis.
Fantastic cause. Do support them if you see them.
Thank you for including Great Bircham on your tour.
Elly

Ps-you can see from the photo that it’s ‘mission complete’ with getting the stock down today.

22/09/2026

Today, at around 11am we are lowering the first stock. We need to take off both stocks and the second pair of sails ready for the cap to come off on October 2nd.
We are open as usual, teas, coffee, cakes, lunches, bread and of course-doughnuts!
We will just need you to stand at a safe distance at the point of lowering the stock.
The stock is loosened and balance on the block and tackle ready.
Thank you for supporting us through our renovations. Elly x

30/08/2026

We are open from 9am to 4pm all through the bank holiday weekend amd on through September.

Tomorrow (Monday 31st August) is our annual staff bread baking competition which we hope you will come and help us judge by tasting the samples and voting for your favourite.
The competition runs from 10am to 1pm when we will announce the winners.

Plus it’s the day we bake lots of speciality breads-do many to choose from!

Tomorrow is also the last day of reduced price entrance tickets as the government vat rate will revert to 20% again from September 1st.

No need to book, just come and enjoy.
Elly xx

13/08/2026

The sun is back after yesterdays eclipse. I hope you all enjoyed it. There’s going to be plenty of hot sun today I think! Plus around here anyway-plenty of hot doughnuts, hot coffee and hot fresh bread!
Stay cool everyone. Elly x

05/08/2026

Lovely day again today. The tiniest bit of rain-at last!
Sunflowers in full bloom. The last few weeks of summer.
Come and enjoy.
Open daily from 9am to 4pm. No need to book for anything, see you soon. Elly xx

01/08/2026

The wood has arrived to build the temporary cap. Step by step we’re getting on with things.
Meanwhile, we are open daily 9am to 4pm.
Teas, coffees, cakes, lunches, all day breakfast, bakery, windmill to climb and lots more.
See you soon. Elly xx