Knockcloghrim

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Knockcloghrim is a small village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, near Maghera. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 186 people. It lies within the Magherafelt District Council area.

Locally significant buildings include St. Conlus’s (Church of Ireland) Church, which is a listed building. The chimney and windmill south of Hillhead Road represent the local industrial heritage and are important local landmark features.

[edit] Places of interest

Knockcloghrim Windmill is a restored windmill which was in operation until the Great Wind of 1895 blew the sails off. It is an historic monument and contains local history exhibits. The windmill is now owned by the Magherafelt and Knockcloghrim Methodist Church and stands in the church grounds. Not surprisingly, it is the only windmill owned by the Methodist Church.

The windmill was built some time between 1860 and 1875 by William Palmer (1823-1898). Apparently it used to be called Palmer's Folly because it never worked properly. The windmill was built beside a steam mill, also owned by Palmer, making this one of very the few sites in all of Ireland that had originally both steam and wind powered machinery in the same location, described as a corn and flax mill.

The windmill is said to have had six sails as opposed to the more common configuration of four, although there is some argument about this. The original roof was blown off by the Big Wind in 1869 and the strange onion shaped top that is there today is a replacement. After it was disabled by the big wind it had many uses, one of which was as a meeting place for the local Orange Order. It was restored in 1993.