East Runton Windmill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids East Runton Windmill
East Runton Windmill, January 2008
Origin
Mill name	East Runton Mill
Coordinates	52°55′58.56″N 1°16′22.39″E / 52.9329333°N 1.2728861°E / 52.9329333; 1.2728861
Operator(s)	Private
Year built	1820s
Information
Purpose	Corn mill
Type	Tower mill
Storeys	Five storeys
No. of sails	Four sails
Type of sails	Double Patent sails
Winding	Fantail
Fantail blades	Six blades
No. of pairs of millstones	Three pairs

East Runton Windmill is an old tower mill located in East Runton, Norfolk, England. It is a special building, officially listed as 'grade II'. This means it is an important historical structure. Today, it is no longer used for grinding corn. Instead, it has been turned into a home.

A Look Back in Time

The first time this windmill appeared on a map was in 1826. Joseph Baker owned the mill in 1836. He was a miller, which means he operated the mill. He also made bricks.

In 1843, the mill was available to rent. Later, in 1860, a fifteen-year-old girl named Martha Holman had an accident. She was accidentally hit by one of the mill's large sails. The mill continued to work until at least 1908. Ronald Hall was the miller at that time.

By 1926, the windmill was no longer working. It was left empty and uncared for. In 1937, the mill still had its cap, which is the top part. But its sails and fantail had been taken off.

By 1949, all the machinery inside the mill had been removed. In 1984, the tower still had parts of the cap frame. Then, in 2003, the mill was changed into a house. A new cap and fantail were added to make it look like a working mill again.

How the Mill Works

East Runton Windmill is a five-storey tower mill. It has a platform, or "stage," on its second floor. The mill has a special boat-shaped cap on top. This cap has a walkway, called a gallery.

A "fantail" helps the cap turn to face the wind. The mill used to have four "double Patent sails." These sails would catch the wind to power the mill. It also had three pairs of millstones. These stones were used to grind corn into flour. The tower itself is about 38 feet (11.58 meters) tall up to the curb level.

Millers of East Runton Windmill

• Joseph Baker (1836-1843)
• George Waterson (1845-1846)
• Joseph Baker (1841-1856)
• Stephen Millet (1858-1859)
• James Kemp (1860-1904)
• Ronald Hall (1908)

Images for kids

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  The Norfolk style cap with six-bladed fan

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  The east elevation of the mill

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  East Runton Windmill

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  East Runton Windmill