Historic Co Down windmill to reopen to the public

ONE of County Down’s best-loved historic landmarks is set to welcome visitors once again after months of being closed.

Ballycopeland Windmill, near Millisle, will reopen later this summer, with its café also expected to resume trading next month in a major boost for local tourism and the rural economy.

The long-awaited reopening follows the appointment of a new site operator and has been welcomed by local representatives after more than a year of uncertainty over the future of the popular heritage attraction.

The windmill, which is located a mile outside of Millisle, was built at the end of the 1700s and operated as a fully functioning windmill until 1915. During this time the mill was operated by the McGilton family.

Several decades after the First World War it was acquired by the government of Northern Ireland in 1935 and sat neglected for many years until it was restored to working order again in 1978, before undergoing more renovation and restoration in 2020.

The site also contains the old miller’s cottage and kiln and was closed down in 2024 but is now set to reopen again next month.

North Down MLA Stephen Dunne confirmed the windmill would reopen soon after submitting questions to the Department for Communities, which confirmed a new operator for the site has been appointed.

“I warmly welcome this long-awaited progress, which is positive news for local residents, volunteers and the many visitors who value Ballycopeland Windmill as one of our most important heritage attractions,” said Mr Dunne.

“It was very disappointing that the facility closed so soon after a significant investment in the site, and it’s imperative that every effort is made to get it reopened as a priority.