Lower Green Mill, Hindringham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lower Green Mill |
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| Origin | |
| Mill location | north of Hindringham, Norfolk |
| Grid reference | TF989375 |
| Coordinates | 52°53′53″N 0°57′23″E / 52.89806°N 0.95639°E |
| Year built | c1844 |
Lower Green Mill is a cool old tower mill located in a place called Lower Green. You can find it north of the village of Hindringham in Norfolk, England. A tower mill is a type of windmill where the main building is a tall, round tower. This mill is also a special "listed building", which means it's an important historical structure that needs to be protected.
Contents
About Lower Green Mill's Design
The mill's tower is made from red bricks found in Norfolk. It stands tall with five different levels, or storeys. At the very top, there used to be a special cap shaped like a boat. This cap had a six-bladed fantail. A fantail is a small windmill that automatically turns the main sails into the wind.
The cap also had a walkway, called a gallery, and a "petticoat" around its base. The mill had four large sails. Each sail had many small wooden shutters that could open and close. These sails helped power three pairs of millstones. Millstones are big, heavy stones used to grind grain into flour. One of these millstones was five feet wide!
Inside the mill, there was also a machine called a sifter. This machine helped separate the flour from other parts of the grain. There was also a special flour mill. In 1862, a bakehouse was built right next to the mill. This was a place where bread could be baked using the flour produced.
Powering the Mill
In March 1860, a strong gale (a very powerful wind) badly damaged the windmill. Because of this, a 10-horsepower Garwood steam engine was added. This steam engine could help power the mill when there wasn't enough wind. It acted as a backup power source.
The History of Lower Green Mill
This windmill was built in 1844. It was actually built on the same spot where an even older type of windmill, called a post mill, once stood. For 64 years, the Lower Green tower windmill worked hard, grinding grain.
However, in 1908, it stopped working as a mill. In 1920, the mill was sold by the Gunthorpe Estate. By 1937, the mill was no longer used and had become quite run-down.
Modern Renovations
In 1970, the mill was sold again. New owners started working to fix it up and turn it into a home. Later, in 1985, more renovation work was done. A new boat-shaped cap was put on the tower. This new cap also had a gallery and a window.
Today, Lower Green Mill is a private home. This means it is not open for people to visit.
