Duck End Mill, Finchingfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Finchingfield Mill |
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The restored mill, January 2008
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| Origin | |
| Mill name | Duck End Mill Letch's Mill |
| Mill location | TL 687 329 |
| Coordinates | 51°58′08″N 0°27′14″E / 51.969°N 0.454°E |
| Operator(s) | Essex County Council |
| Year built | Mid-18th century |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn mill |
| Type | Post mill |
| Roundhouse storeys | Single storey roundhouse |
| No. of sails | Four sails |
| Type of sails | Spring sails |
| Windshaft | Wood |
| Winding | Tailpole |
| No. of pairs of millstones | One pair |
Duck End Mill, also called Letch's Mill or Finchingfield Post Mill, is a historic Post mill located in Finchingfield, Essex, England. It is a special type of building, officially recognized as a Grade II listed structure, and it has been carefully restored for visitors. This old mill once ground corn into flour for the local community.
Contents
Discovering Finchingfield Mill's Past
Finchingfield Mill, also known as Duck End Mill, was built a long time ago, in the middle of the 1700s. Records show it might have been built around 1756, 1760, 1773, or 1777. When it was first built, it was an "open trestle" mill. This means its main body, which holds all the machinery, sat on a wooden frame that was open to the air.
How the Mill Changed Over Time
In 1840, a "roundhouse" was added to the mill. This is a circular building that surrounds the base of the mill. It helps protect the wooden frame from bad weather. The mill was important enough to be insured for £50 in 1790 and £100 in 1794. It kept working, grinding corn, until about 1890.
Replacing Important Parts
Originally, the mill had a "windshaft" made entirely of wood. The windshaft is a big axle that connects the sails to the gears inside the mill. In the 1950s, this wooden windshaft was replaced with a stronger one made of cast iron. This new part came from another mill called Gainsford End Mill in Toppesfield. Later, a new wooden windshaft was put in place again.
Understanding the Mill's Design
Duck End Mill is a type of Post mill. This means the entire top part of the mill, which holds the sails and machinery, can turn around on a large central post. This allows the miller to point the sails into the wind, no matter which way it's blowing.
Key Features of the Mill
The mill has a single-storey roundhouse at its base, which we talked about earlier. To turn the mill into the wind, it uses a "tailpole." This is a long wooden pole that extends from the back of the mill body down to the ground. The miller would push or pull this pole to rotate the mill.
Sails and Grinding Power
Finchingfield Mill has four "Spring sails." These are a type of windmill sail that can adjust to different wind speeds. Inside the mill, there was one pair of "millstones." These are large, heavy stones that grind the corn into flour. The millstones were powered by a large gear called an "8-foot 8-inch Brake Wheel." The main body of the mill measures about 16 feet 6 inches by 10 feet.
Visiting Finchingfield Mill
If you are interested in seeing this historic windmill, it is open to the public. You can visit Finchingfield Mill on the first Sunday of each month during the summer. It's a great chance to see how people used to grind corn long ago!
