[2] Despite the town having three water mills, not enough flour could be produced to feed the poor of Stafford, as large amounts were being shipped to Birmingham via the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, built in 1772 at Radford Bank.

Allotment land was made available at Broad Eye for the project, which is one of the lowest lying areas of Stafford Borough, sited next to the River Sow.

Furthermore, due to the demand for finer, white flour which could not be produced at the Broad Eye Windmill, by 1896, the mill reached the end of its life in its intended form, and in the following year, in 1897, the sails and winding gear were removed.

American troops used the mill as a wartime store place but it later fell derelict, before being declared a Grade II listed building in 1951.

In 1966, the Friends of Broad Eye Windmill[5] was created to look after the mill with the idea of returning it to its former glory, whilst establishing a heritage and education centre within.