Button's Mill, Diss facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Diss Windmill |
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Button's Mill, c1911
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| Origin | |
| Mill name | Jays Mill Button's Mill Victoria Road Mill |
| Mill location | TM123792 |
| Coordinates | 52°22′12″N 1°07′05″E / 52.36995°N 1.1180352°E |
| Operator(s) | Private |
| Year built | c1817 |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn |
| Type | Tower mill |
| Storeys | Six storeys |
| No. of sails | Four sails |
| Type of sails | Double Patent sails |
| Windshaft | Cast iron |
| Winding | Fantail |
| Fantail blades | Eight blades |
| Auxiliary power | Steam engine, later replaced by an oil engine |
| No. of pairs of millstones | Three pairs (1853) Four pairs (1880) |
| Size of millstones | Two pairs 5 feet (1.52 m) diameter, one pair 4 feet (1.22 m) diameter (1853) Four pairs 4 feet (1.22 m) diameter (1880). |
Have you ever wondered about old buildings that used to do important jobs? This article is all about the Diss Windmill, also known as Jay's Mill, Button's Mill, or Victoria Road Mill. It's a special type of tower mill located in Diss, Norfolk, England. This old mill no longer grinds grain; it has been changed into a home!
Contents
History of Diss Windmill
Building the Mill
The Diss Windmill, also called Button's Mill, was built around 1817. It was built on land that Thomas Jay bought in Diss Common. Thomas Jay also owned another type of windmill, a post mill, nearby on Stuston Road.
Early Challenges and Repairs
When it was first built, the Diss Windmill had eight sails. But on November 28, 1836, a strong storm blew all eight sails off! Just four days before, Thomas Jay's other mill, the post mill, had also been destroyed by a gale.
After the damage, a skilled millwright named Henry Rush repaired the tower mill. However, it was rebuilt with only four sails instead of eight. A new post mill was also built to replace the one that was blown down.
New Owners and Modern Changes
Thomas Jay passed away in 1847. His wife, Sarah, then ran the mill for a few years. The mill was offered for sale in 1853 and again in 1856. Michael Hawes bought it in 1856.
Later, William Hawes took over the mill. He retired in 1880, and the mill was sold to John Button. John Button had a lot of experience working with windmills in the Diss area. By this time, a steam engine had been added to the mill. This engine helped power the mill when there wasn't enough wind.
In 1892, new roller milling equipment was installed. This made the process of grinding grain more modern. The steam engine was later replaced by an oil engine, which was another step forward in technology for the mill.
The Mill's Final Working Years
In 1928, the mill lost one of its sails. John B Button was working the mill at this time. It continued to operate with just one pair of sails until 1929. That year, the mill's fantail (a small windmill at the back that keeps the main sails facing the wind) was damaged.
Around 1936, the last pair of sails from Diss Windmill were sold. These sails found a new purpose at Terling Mill in Essex. They were moved by train and then by horse and cart! After the sails were removed, the top part of the Diss Windmill was taken off, and one storey was removed. The mill was then used as part of a saw mill.
Finally, in 1968, the old mill was bought and changed into a home. It's a great example of how old buildings can be given a new life!
How the Mill Worked
The Diss Windmill was a six-storey tower mill. It had a round, domed cap on top. A fantail on the cap helped turn the mill so its sails always faced the wind.
Originally, it had eight sails, but after the storm in 1836, it was rebuilt with four double Patent sails. These sails were very large, about 66 feet (20 meters) wide and 9 feet (2.7 meters) across. They were attached to a strong cast-iron windshaft.
Inside the mill, a large wooden brake wheel turned. It was about 11.5 feet (3.5 meters) wide and had iron teeth. This wheel helped power the millstones. The mill had four pairs of French Burr millstones. These special stones were used to grind corn into flour. They were driven overdrift, meaning they were turned from above.
Millers of Diss Windmill
Here are the people who ran the Diss Windmill over the years:
- Thomas Jay (1817-1847)
- Sarah Jay (1847-1856)
- William Michael Hawes (1856-1880)
- John Button (1880-1883)
- John & William Edward Button (1883-1922)
- John B Button (until 1929)
