Buttrum's Mill, Woodbridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Trott's MillButtrum's Mill |
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The mill in 2006
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| Origin | |
| Mill location | TM 264 493 |
| Coordinates | 52°05′44″N 1°18′16″E / 52.0956°N 1.3045°E |
| Operator(s) | Suffolk County Council |
| Year built | 1836 |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn mill |
| Type | Tower mill |
| Storeys | Six storeys |
| No. of sails | Four Sails |
| Type of sails | Patent sails |
| Windshaft | Cast Iron |
| Winding | Fantail |
| Fantail blades | Six Blades |
| Auxiliary power | Portable steam engine |
| No. of pairs of millstones | Four pairs |
| Size of millstones | All 4 feet (1.22 m) diameter |
| Other information | Tallest surviving windmill in Suffolk |
Buttrum's Mill or Trott's Mill is a tall and historic tower mill located in Woodbridge, Suffolk, England. It is a Grade II* listed building, meaning it is a very important historical site. This mill has been carefully restored and can still work today.
Contents
The Mill's Story
Buttrum's Mill was built in 1836 by John Whitmore, a skilled millwright (someone who designs and builds mills) from Wickham Market. It was built to replace an older type of windmill called a post mill.
For many years, the mill was run by the Trott family, who it was originally built for. Later, the Buttrum family took over running the mill.
The mill used wind power until October 11, 1928. In 1934, the shutters were taken off the sails and stored inside the mill. A mill enthusiast named Mr. Kenney bought the mill at an auction in 1937.
In the 1940s, the fantail (a small windmill that turns the cap into the wind) blew off, damaging the mill's cap (the top part of the mill). In 1950, East Suffolk County Council was given a lease to look after the mill. Their goal was to save an example of each main type of windmill.
The mill was in bad shape, but it was restored starting in 1952. Thomas Smithdale and Sons, millwrights from Acle, Norfolk, did the work for East Suffolk County Council. The restoration cost £4,000 and was finished in 1954. Part of the money came from the Pilgrim Trust. During this work, the metal gallery (a walkway) around the cap was replaced with a wooden one. A new cap and fantail were also built.
The fantail was damaged again in a strong wind in December 1966. In 1973, a new stock (the main beam holding the sails) and a new sail were put on. More restoration work was done in the late 1970s by Millwrights International Ltd. A new cap was lifted onto the mill by a crane in 1982, and new sails were added in 1984.
How Buttrum's Mill Works
Buttrum's Mill is a six-storey tower mill with a special "ogee" shaped cap that has a walkway around it. The tower is about 6.2 meters (20 feet 6 inches) wide inside at the bottom. It narrows to about 3.3 meters (11 feet) wide at the top, where the cap sits. The mill stands about 14.6 meters (48 feet) high to the cap level. The brick walls at the bottom are about 58 centimeters (23 inches) thick.
The mill stands about 18.6 meters (61 feet) tall to its highest point, making it the tallest surviving windmill in Suffolk. A six-bladed fantail turns the cap so the sails always face the wind.
The mill has four "Patent sails," which are about 21.3 meters (70 feet) wide from tip to tip. These sails are connected to a strong cast-iron shaft called the windshaft. This windshaft also holds a large cast-iron brake wheel with wooden teeth.
The brake wheel turns a smaller wheel called a wallower, which is on a long, upright shaft. This wallower can be disconnected from the brake wheel. This allows the mill to be powered by a different engine if there's no wind. Lower down, another cast-iron wheel called a crown wheel drives other machinery.
The main power from the upright shaft goes to a large cast-iron "great spur wheel." This wheel turns four pairs of millstones, each about 1.2 meters (4 feet) across. These stones grind the corn. Two of the four pairs of millstones are controlled by a special device called a governor. This device helps keep the grinding speed steady.
An interesting feature of the mill is a speaking tube. This tube connects the different floors, allowing people to talk to each other without shouting. One pair of the mill's sails is shorter than the other pair.
Millers Who Worked Here
Here are some of the people who operated Buttrum's Mill over the years:
- George Trott (1836–1846)
- Pierce Trott (1846–1861)
- William Benns (1861–1868)
- John Buttrum (1869–1884)
- Mary Ann Buttrum (1885–1908)
- George Buttrum (1908–1928)
Visiting Buttrum's Mill
Buttrum's Mill is often open to the public. In 2015, it was expected to be open on the first and third Sundays from May to September, from 1 PM to 5 PM. There are also extra openings for special events like Maritime Woodbridge and National Heritage Open Days, run by volunteers.
In 2011, the mill was open from 2 PM to 5:30 PM over Easter. It was also open on Saturdays, Sundays, and Bank Holidays from May to September. On National Mills Weekend, it is usually open from 11 AM to 5 PM. It's a great place to visit and learn about how windmills work!
More Mills to Explore
If you're interested in windmills, you might also like to learn about these other mills in or near Woodbridge:
