Garboldisham Windmill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Garboldisham Windmill |
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The mill in 2007
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| Origin | |
| Mill name | Garboldisham Mill |
| Mill location | TM 0026 8048 |
| Coordinates | 52°23′8.72″N 0°56′28.8″E / 52.3857556°N 0.941333°E |
| Operator(s) | Private |
| Year built | 1770s |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn |
| Type | Post mill |
| Roundhouse storeys | Two storey roundhouse |
| No. of sails | Four sails |
| Type of sails | Patent sails |
| Windshaft | Cast iron |
| Winding | Fantail |
| Fantail blades | Eight blades |
| No. of pairs of millstones | Two pairs, located in the breast |
| Size of millstones | 4 feet 4 inches (1.32 m) |
Garboldisham Mill is a special type of windmill called a post mill. It's located in Garboldisham, Norfolk, and has been carefully restored to its original working condition. It's also a Grade II* listed building, which means it's an important historical site.
Contents
The Story of Garboldisham Mill
People have been milling grain in Garboldisham since the 1500s. The first windmill we know about was in 1739. The mill you see today was built in the 1770s by James Turner, a farmer from Blo' Norton. This mill appeared on old maps of Suffolk and Norfolk from the late 1700s.
There used to be other windmills nearby too! In 1788, James Turner built a smock mill to the south. Later, in 1820, a tower mill was built north of the post mill. In 1802, James Turner sold both his mills to John Button.
Changes and Upgrades
Over the years, the mill got some cool upgrades. On July 8, 1827, a new main shaft, called a windshaft, was put in. In March 1831, the mill got special Patent sails. These sails could adjust automatically to the wind. At the same time, a fantail was added. This is a small windmill at the back that automatically turns the main mill into the wind. It's thought that the millstones were also moved to the front of the mill around this time.
All three mills (the post mill, smock mill, and tower mill) were shown on an 1837 map. However, the smock mill was gone by 1839. The post mill and tower mill were put up for sale in 1839 but didn't sell right away. The smock mill might have burned down in 1840.
Millers and Challenges
Many families worked at Garboldisham Mill. Mary Button owned the mill in 1842, and John Button was the miller. William Button took over in 1854. By 1864, the tower mill had been taken down. William Alfred Lawrence was the miller until he sadly passed away in 1871 after getting frostbite while working on the sails. His wife, Emma Lawrence, then ran the business. She hired John Nunn to help manage the mill and farm.
On August 3, 1879, a strong storm blew off two of the mill's sails. The mill was repaired, and the new sails were made wider so they could power both pairs of millstones at once. A steam engine was also added to help run the mill, especially when there wasn't enough wind.
John Nunn married Emma Lawrence's daughter in 1892 and left to run another farm. Emma's son, Frederick, then took over the mill, followed by John Tuck. In 1902, Emma Lawrence retired. Christopher George Pattinson became the new miller. In 1906, another sail blew off, and its opposite sail was removed to keep the mill balanced. The mill worked with only two sails until 1914. Pattinson's lease ended in 1917, and the mill stopped working.
Bringing the Mill Back to Life
The mill was later rented by Stephen Brock. In 1944, the estate that owned the mill was sold, and Brock's son bought the mill. In 1970, it was put up for sale again. By 1971, the mill was in bad shape and almost falling apart. Emergency repairs were done with money from the Historic Buildings Council and Norfolk County Council.
In March 1972, George Colman bought the mill for £250. His son, Adrian, started the huge job of restoring it. At that time, Garboldisham Mill was the only post mill still standing in Norfolk! By 1975, a small mill was set up inside the roundhouse, and milling started again using an electric motor. The main mill was slowly restored over the next 25 years.
Garboldisham Mill remained the only post mill in Norfolk until 1984, when Thrigby Windmill was rebuilt.
How Garboldisham Mill Works
Garboldisham Mill is a post mill, which means the whole top part of the mill (the body) can turn around on a central post to face the wind. It has a two-storey roundhouse at the bottom. An eight-bladed fantail at the back helps the mill turn into the wind.
The Main Structure
The mill's main support is called the trestle. It's made of two large wooden beams called crosstrees, four angled supports called quarterbars, and a strong central main post. The main post is about 1 foot 11 inches (584 mm) wide at the top.
The main body of the mill measures about 21 feet (6.4 m) by 9 feet 9 inches (2.97 m).
Sails and Windshaft
When it was first built, the mill had a wooden windshaft (the main axle that the sails turn) and simple Common sails. Later, these were replaced with Patent sails and a stronger cast-iron windshaft. The windshaft is about 10 inches (250 mm) wide where the main brake wheel is.
The mill was likely built with its millstones arranged "head and tail" (one at the front, one at the back). But now, both pairs of millstones are located in the "breast" (front) of the mill.
Inside the Machinery
The windshaft holds a large 8-foot 6-inch (2.59 m) wide brake wheel with iron teeth. This wheel turns a 2-foot (610 mm) wide cast-iron wallower at the top of a vertical shaft. At the bottom of this shaft, a 3-foot 10-inch (1.17 m) wide great spur wheel turns two pairs of millstones. These millstones grind the grain into flour.
Millers of Garboldisham Mill
- James Turner 1788–1802
- John Button 1802–42
- William Button 1854
- William Alfred Lawrence 1862–71
- Emma Lawrence 1871–1902
- John Nunn 1871–92
- Frederick Lawrence 1892–?
- John Tuck ?–1902
- Christopher George Pattinson 1902–17
- William Bennett ?–1914
- Adrian Colman 1975 to date
Visiting Garboldisham Mill
You can visit Garboldisham Mill by making an appointment.
