The owner of Wales' only working windmill has ignited a dispute with local authorities and descendants of the original miller after repainting the 250-year-old Grade II-listed Melin Llynon windmill in vibrant red, white, and green without prior permission.
Richard Holt, 33, who operates his Mônuts business from the windmill, stated the colorful renovation was intended to celebrate the Urdd Eisteddfod, a Welsh music, dance, and literature festival. The new design was inspired by Mistar Urdd, the mascot of the Urdd Gobaith Cymru organization. Holt initially planned to repaint the windmill white but decided to keep the bolder colors after receiving positive feedback, which he claimed also boosted business.
However, the decision has drawn significant backlash. Anglesey Council has issued an order for the windmill to be returned to its original color, emphasizing its status as a protected historic building. Dr. Eiddwen Jones, a descendant of the mill's first miller, Thomas Jones, who managed the property for 70 years after its construction in 1776, expressed her disapproval. She stated that her ancestor, who died in his nineties, would have disapproved of the new paint job, describing the colors as overly vibrant and the mill's original whitewash as a more suitable aesthetic.
The Urdd Eisteddfod, which attracts approximately 15,000 young people annually, was held in Anglesey for the first time in over two decades. Holt stated he intended for the colorful display to be temporary, lasting only a week, before reverting to white. He explained that windmills historically were decorated to commemorate significant events.
Holt acknowledged that he should have obtained council permission for the alterations and has apologized. He maintains, however, that he was unaware of the specific requirement for consent for repainting. He has launched a petition to keep the colors, which has garnered hundreds of signatures, while a counter-petition to restore the original white has received only three signatures.
An Isle of Anglesey County Council spokesperson clarified that the issue is not an opposition to Welsh culture but a matter of legal protection for a listed building. The council has a statutory duty to ensure compliance with the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023. "Any alterations that affect the character or fabric of a listed building require Listed Building Consent in advance," the spokesperson said. "This applies in all cases, regardless of the intention behind the works. In this instance, the repainting was carried out without consent."
The council has requested that the unauthorized paint be removed using an appropriate conservation method and that the building be returned to a suitable finish to protect the heritage asset. The matter is under investigation, and the council is working with Holt to resolve the situation.