Friston Windmill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Friston Windmill |
|
|---|---|
Friston Windmill in July 2010
|
|
| Origin | |
| Mill name | Friston Windmill |
| Mill location | TM 411 601 |
| Coordinates | 52°11′10″N 1°31′41″E / 52.18611°N 1.52806°E |
| Operator(s) | Private |
| Year built | 1812 |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn mill |
| Type | Post mill |
| No. of sails | Four sails |
| Type of sails | Patent sails |
| Windshaft | Cast iron |
| Winding | Fantail |
| Fantail blades | Six blades |
Friston Windmill is a very old and important windmill located in Friston, Suffolk, England. It's known as a "post mill" and is a special building, listed as Grade II*. This means it's a really important historical site! This windmill has been carefully looked after so people can still see it today.
Contents
History of Friston Windmill
Friston Windmill wasn't always in Friston. It was moved from Woodbridge in 1812. A mill builder named Collins from Melton helped move it. William and Mary Scarlett bought the land and had the windmill built there. Later in 1812, they sold the mill to Joseph Collings.
Over the years, many different millers worked at Friston Windmill. In 1837, Joshua Reynolds from Knodishall bought it. The mill stayed in the Reynolds family for a long time. Caleb Reynolds Wright took over in 1883, and his son, Caleb Reynolds Wright Jr., became the miller in 1924.
In 1943, two of the mill's four sails had to be removed. There wasn't enough wood to replace them at the time. The windmill kept working with just two sails until 1956. After that, a diesel engine powered it until 1964.
Saving the Windmill
In 1965, there was a plan to take the windmill down. But this didn't happen. The rules about old buildings changed, so permission to demolish it had to be asked for again in 1968. People in the village had different ideas. Some wanted to keep the mill, and others thought it should be taken down. There were many discussions in the local newspapers.
A special mill builder was asked to check the windmill. After looking at it, the builder said the mill was strong and safe. So, everyone agreed that the mill should be moved to the Museum of East Anglian Life in Stowmarket. The museum was planning to have a windmill as part of its exhibits.
Meanwhile, people in Friston started raising money to fix the mill. Repairs began in 1971. The plan to demolish it was stopped. When the last miller passed away in 1972, a new owner bought the mill. This owner wanted to make sure the windmill was saved. In 1977, a company called Messrs Jameson Marshall helped restore the main part of the mill.
In 2003, English Heritage, a group that helps protect historical sites, gave money for more repairs. They paid for 20% of the costs. In 2004, a special steel frame was put around the mill. This allowed workers to fix the lower part of the mill, called the trestle, and the main body.
What Friston Windmill Looks Like
Friston Windmill is a very tall post mill with a round building at its base called a roundhouse. It used to have four special sails called Patent sails. A fantail on the back steps would turn the mill to face the wind. This was a common style in Suffolk.
This windmill is about 50 feet (15.24 m) high. This makes it the tallest surviving post mill in the whole United Kingdom! The mill has been preserved, but the three pairs of millstones have been removed. These millstones were used to grind corn into flour. The mill had two pairs of millstones at the front and one pair at the back.
Millers of Friston Windmill
A miller is a person who operates a mill, especially one that grinds grain into flour. Here are some of the people who worked at Friston Windmill:
- William and Mary Scarlett (1812)
- Joseph Collings (from 1812)
- Robert Reynolds (1850s)
- John Reynolds (1850s)
- Joshua Reynolds (1850s – 1883)
- Caleb Reynolds Wright (1883 – 1924)
- Caleb Reynolds Wright Jr. (1924 – 1964)
