Creeting St Mary Windmill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Creeting St Mary Windmill |
|
|---|---|
| Origin | |
| Mill name | Creeting St Mary Mill |
| Grid reference | TM 091 553 |
| Coordinates | 52°09′22″N 1°03′28″E / 52.15611°N 1.05778°E |
| Operator(s) | Private |
| Year built | 1796 |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn mill |
| Type | Post mill |
| No. of sails | Four Sails |
| Type of sails | Patent Sails |
| Year lost | c1860 |
The Creeting St Mary Windmill is a special old building in Creeting St Mary, Suffolk, England. It is a Grade II listed building, which means it's important and protected. This building was originally the main part of a post mill that stood in a different spot in the village. It has been carefully restored.
History of the Mill
The Creeting St Mary windmill was built a long time ago, in 1796. It was used to grind corn, like many windmills. This mill was a "post mill," which means the whole top part of the mill could turn around to face the wind.
Around 1860, the mill was taken apart. The main body of the mill was moved to a nearby farm. This farm was called Houghton Park Farm, but it's now known as The Old Hall. The mill became part of the farm's other buildings. Later, this area became Alder Carr Farm.
The special "Patent sails" from this windmill were moved to another mill. They went to a tower mill in a place called Kersey. After being moved, the mill building was used as a dovecote for many years. A dovecote is a building where pigeons or doves are kept. This is the only example in the country of a windmill's main body being reused this way.
By the late 1970s, the building was in bad shape. But in 1995, it was restored and moved to a new spot on the farm. It was then changed into a craft workshop. The building still has all its original wooden frame inside.
What Kind of Mill Was It?
The Creeting St Mary Windmill was a type of mill called a "post mill." This means the entire main part of the mill, called the "buck," sat on a large central post. This design allowed the whole mill to be turned by hand to face the wind. It had four Patent sails, which were a modern type of windmill sail at the time.
Visiting the Mill
The mill building is located at Alder Carr Farm. The farm is open every day from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It is closed only on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day.
The mill building itself is currently home to a shop called Halfpenny Home Haberdashery. You can visit the mill building from Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. After Easter, it is also open on Sundays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
