The Old Mill

"A long time ago, back when Lego City was no more than a small village with a few houses, The Mill was a hive of activity in the community. Nestled in the fields near the village, the local farmers would bring their grain to the mill to be made into flour to be sold at market.

As time marched on through the years the village grew into a town, then a city, and industry harnessed the power of engines and electricity. The mill was used less and less and eventually the sails stopped turning and the once magical building fell into years of silent neglect and disrepair.

Now, the Lego City community has brought the Old Mill back to life, lovingly restoring it back to its former glory for everyone to visit and enjoy."

So says the tourist information leaflet in the gift shop!

The Old Mill is a "post mill", one in which the whole superstructure turns on top of a single post - the building, sails, machinery and all.

As the central post supports the entire weight of the structure it must be supported by a trestle, which is enclosed by a brick roundhouse. As well as protecting the wooden beams from the elements, the roundhouse was also used for the storage of spare parts and sacks of grain and flour.

The mill in its original form had to be turned to face the wind by the miller (and his helpers!) by pushing a tail pole attached to the back of the mill. At some point after construction the 'fan tail' was added, which powers wheels to drive the mill around to face the wind.

The Old Mill as it stands comprises around 2500 pieces and, while not strictly modular, is built to true minifig scale. It can stand alone as a fun model with loads of playability value, and would also complement any town layout, modular or not.

There are six minifigures in the set - the Tripp family, who are having lots of fun visiting the attraction, the mill-owner and the souvenir stand or shop attendant.

I'd like to do more work on the interior - some more detail and some additional work to ensure the weight of the top structure is distributed correctly. I'm also not 100% sure the souvenir stand is the right choice - I love it but I think I'll try some other options.

In the meantime please enjoy The Old Mill, and please support if you like it!