Fresh drinking water is scarce in the marsh, and in the years 1842-1965 the two snail mills pumped water up from the river, which through an open ditch system, the so-called "water gray", provided the cattle on the meadows with drinking water. The mills were operated in a community between the farmers with land in the meadows.
The first mills were wooden, but after a renovation in 1890 they were rebuilt in iron.
Ever since Ballum Meadows was drained in 1970, it has been irrigated by self-acting pumps.
The improvement association Ballum Enges was founded in 1972, which initially took care of the restoration of the very dilapidated turbines and since then has built the small mill house in a typical West Schleswig style, in which the turbines are stored in winter.
The beautification association also takes care of the care of the two turbines - repairs and that they are overwintered and come out again in the spring. Six to eight volunteers are involved in the work, says Erhardt Ehmsen, Bunti Ballum, one of them.
He also says that later the sails will be set on the wings and in the summer you can also experience the turbines turning, among other things. is set in motion when Ehmsen himself is responsible for guided tours into the Ballum Enge.
Jens Laurits Hansen
Article so found on the internet.
Unfortunately, we couldn't see the mill wings, it's only March and then they'll probably still be in hibernation. Still very interesting, there is also a small Møllen museum next to it, which will probably / hopefully open again soon.