Denver Windmill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Denver Windmill |
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The restored mill, April 2006
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| Origin | |
| Mill name | Denver Mill |
| Grid reference | TF 6050 0121 |
| Coordinates | 52°35′06″N 0°22′03″E / 52.5850°N 0.3676°E |
| Operator(s) | Denver Windmill Ltd |
| Year built | 1835 |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn mill |
| Type | Tower mill |
| Storeys | Six |
| No. of sails | Four sails |
| Type of sails | Double Patent sails |
| Windshaft | Cast iron |
| Winding | Fantail |
| Fantail blades | Six blades |
| Auxiliary power | Steam engine, later replaced by a diesel engine |
| No. of pairs of millstones | Three pairs |
Denver Windmill is a very old and important tower mill located in Denver, Norfolk, England. It's a special building because it's listed as "Grade II*". This means it's historically very important. Only a small number of buildings in England are given this high level of protection. This windmill has a long history of grinding corn and has been a key part of its community for many years.
Contents
The Story of Denver Windmill
Building a New Mill in 1835
Denver Windmill was built in 1835. It replaced an older type of windmill called a post mill. The old mill was shown on maps from 1824. A man named John Porter had the new tower mill built. You can still see a stone on the tower with "JMP 1835" carved into it. This stone shows who built it and when.
Adding Power: Steam and Diesel Engines
By 1863, a steam engine was added to the windmill. This engine helped power three pairs of millstones, just like the wind did. This meant the mill could keep working even on calm days.
Later, around 1925, a diesel engine replaced the steam engine. This new engine continued to help grind corn.
Challenges and Repairs
The windmill faced some tough times. In 1908, a strong storm damaged the mill, stopping it from working. In 1939, lightning struck the mill, damaging one of its sails. Luckily, this was repaired.
In 1941, another part of the mill, called the curb, was damaged. This meant the mill could no longer use wind power. But milling continued using the diesel engine until 1969.
Restoration and Reopening
In the 1970s, the mill was given to Norfolk County Council. More damage occurred in 1972 when a sail blew off in a gale. This left the mill with only two sails.
From 1974 to 1975, important repair work was done. The top part of the mill, called the cap, and its sails were fixed. However, in 1976, another gale lifted the cap, causing more damage.
Major restoration work began in 1995. The goal was to make the mill fully working again. This huge project cost over £1,000,000! Money came from different groups, including the European Regional Development Fund and the Heritage Lottery Fund. The beautifully restored mill opened to the public in March 2000.
A New Chapter and an Accident
In 2008, a company called Denver Mill Ltd took over. Their goal was to make the mill successful on its own. They started making high-quality flours again. They also opened a bakery and tearoom on site. Here, visitors could see and taste products made with the mill's flour. A baking school was also started to teach people about traditional baking.
On October 4, 2011, an unexpected accident happened. One of the mill's steel parts broke while the windmill was turning freely. This caused a sail to crash into another one. Luckily, the staff at Denver Mill acted very quickly. They immediately stopped the mill and safely moved everyone away. No one was hurt, which was a great relief!
In August 2013, the windmill reopened under new management. The charity that owns the mill is now raising money to fix and put the sails back on. The mill complex is open to visitors once more.
How Denver Windmill Works
Denver Windmill is a tall building with six floors. It has a platform, or stage, on the third floor. The tower is about 59 feet (18 meters) high. The top of the mill, called the ogee cap, has a walkway around it. A special part called a fantail helps turn the cap so the sails always face the wind.
The mill has three pairs of millstones that grind the grain. These are "overdrift" stones, meaning the power comes from above them. When there's no wind, a 1932 Blackstone diesel engine can provide power.
In recent years, other types of mills have been added. An electric mill was brought in in 2009. Another type of stone mill was added in 2011. After the sail accident, they are also looking into using electricity to power one set of the windmill's stones.
Millers of Denver Windmill
These are some of the people who operated the mill over the years:
- John Porter (1835-1853)
- John Gleaves (1853-1873)
- James Gleaves (1873-1896)
- Thomas Edward Harris (1896-1925)
- Thomas Edwin Harris (1925-1969)
Visiting Denver Windmill
Denver Windmill is now a pub called The Steammill. It is open to the public almost every day of the year, except for Christmas Day. It's a great place to visit and learn about its history.
Denver Windmill in Media
Denver Windmill has even appeared on TV!
- It was shown in an episode of the comedy show 'Allo 'Allo! in 1992. The episode was called "Fighting with Windmills."
- The mill and its tea room were also featured in the 2012 BBC2 series Alex Polizzi: The Fixer. This show helps family businesses improve.
