About

As you travel towards Skidby, you will see the impressive four-sailed mill standing on top of the hill. Unusual to most surviving mills around the UK, is that Skidby Mill still has all of its original outbuildings around the courtyard. It is in these converted buildings you will find the Museum of East Riding Rural Life.

Cost

Adults:

£2.50

Concessions:

£1.50

Children over 5:

£1.25

Children under 5:

FREE

The Museum of East Riding Rural Life

Explore the outbuildings of Skidby Mill and be transported into the life of East Riding Rural Villages. Find our extensive assortment of agricultural paraphernalia in the Agriculture Gallery, including our Alex West and Norman Creaser collections of market gardening, tools and models. Learn what it means to live in a rural village in the Village Life Gallery. Get an honest insight into the lifestyle by reading the experiences and memories of local people, displayed around the exhibitions. Up on the flour bagging floor there is a display on the restoration of the mill that took place between 2008 and 2010.

Please note: Currently we have suspended milling and our stone-ground flour is not available. We apologise for any disappointment. Read more on the renovations further down this page.

Ongoing Renovations

Skidby Mill has historically been described as the last workable windmill in the East Riding, although definitions of a "working mill" can vary.

Following the restoration works, the mill's sails will be reinstated and remain stationary. The sails will also be without their shades so that they do not catch the wind, protecting the structure.

Operating a fully working windmill requires a specialist millwright to be present to manage the sails safely, which has not been practical for some time, therefore the mill will not return to active milling and the sails will only be turned for maintenance reasons.

The sails are expected to be reinstated shortly, subject to final commissioning checks, crane availability and suitable weather conditions.

Skidby Mill Museum remains open to visitors (see our schedule of public openings). The miller’s garden, adjacent to the mill, and the adjoining acreage with the wildlife meadow and children’s play equipment, are open to visitors at all times.

Sails Cafe

Sails Cafe in the Courtyard serves food freshly prepared on the premises using locally sourced ingredients wherever possible. A children's menu is available as well as picnic baskets made to order. The cafe can also cater for buffets for family gatherings, business lunches or meetings. The cafe is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm. Please note the cafe is closed on bank holidays. Booking advisable: telephone (01482) 847831 or email elaine@sailscafe.com The Sails Cafe is an independently run business and opening times may vary at the discretion of the business owner.

About the mill

Download the fact sheets at the bottom of this page to discover more about Skidby Mill's history and how the mill works.

Visiting with children

If you're visiting with children there’s plenty to do alongside exhibitions to make your visit fun and interesting. Spot the mice hidden around the museum or see how quickly you can put a puzzle together.

Under 5s can play with farm themed toys, borrow an Explorer Kit to make fascinating discoveries around the building, or take part in our '5 Things to do' activities and collect a sticker.

Parking

Please be aware there is no vehicle access to the mill courtyard. Free car parking is available 100m from the mill.

Location accessibility

Visitors with limited mobility can be dropped off at the top entrance road leading to the mill. There is a wheelchair available to borrow during your visit when the museum is open, please ask at reception. Lift up to education room. Mill tower and flour-bagging area not accessible to wheelchairs and prams. Only assistance dogs are allowed in the mill and museum.