Moulin de Rolmont

Moulin de Rolmont is a stone tower mill standing in Warloy-Baillon, a small commune in the Somme department, on the road linking Henencourt and Baizieux just south of the village centre. It is the last survivor of five mills that once operated in the commune, and the only remaining cylindrical tower mill of its kind anywhere in the Somme.

How old is the mill and what was it used for?

The tower is generally dated to the 15th century and was built as a grain mill. The land, along with the village of Warloy itself, once belonged to the Abbey of Corbie before passing to the lords of the Lameth family. The mill operated under the old "banal" system: local peasants were obliged to have their grain ground there and pay a fee to the feudal lord for the privilege. Milling continued until 1930, when the operation finally stopped.

What happened to the mill during the First World War?

In 1914 the windmill was still fully functional. By 1916 the surrounding area lay well behind the front line, forming part of a rest zone for the British Army, with a Royal Flying Corps aerodrome nearby. On 25 August 1916 the mill was photographed by official war photographer John Warwick Brooke — the image survives in the Imperial War Museum archive under reference Q5153 and shows the structure still intact at that stage. The situation changed sharply from March 1918, when the front line shifted right up to the mill's doorstep. Over the following five months, shellfire damaged numerous buildings in the area, the mill among them.

Who looks after the mill today?

The local association "Le Moulin de Rolmont" now cares for the site under a long-term lease agreed with the owners, covering both restoration work and the mill's revival as a venue for cultural events. Long overlooked as little more than a Great War ruin, the tower is gradually being opened up to visitors through the association's ongoing efforts.

Why is Moulin de Rolmont worth a visit?

The mill carries two distinct layers of history at once: a medieval legacy of rural milling and feudal obligation, and a physical record of the fighting that swept through the Somme in 1918. For visitors focused on WWI history, it offers an authentic, lesser-known stop away from the busier memorial sites of the region. For those drawn to rural industrial heritage, it is a rare surviving example of a stone tower mill that has endured both wartime damage and decades of disuse.

How do you get to Warloy-Baillon?

Warloy-Baillon sits at the heart of the Somme department, in the Hauts-de-France region, surrounded by the former battlefields of the Somme campaign. The commune connects easily to neighbouring villages and makes a convenient base for exploring nearby sites tied to the 1916–1918 fighting.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Moulin de Rolmont built? The tower is dated to the 15th century and was originally constructed as a grain mill.

Is the mill still operational? No — milling ended in 1930. Today the structure survives as a heritage site cared for by a local association.

What is its connection to the First World War? In 1916 it stood in a British rear area behind the front, but from March 1918, once the front line reached it, the mill suffered shellfire damage over several months.

Who manages the site now? The association "Le Moulin de Rolmont" holds a long-term lease with the owners and runs both the restoration and the cultural programming at the mill.