Thrigby Windmill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thrigby Post Windmill |
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Thrigby Post Windmill
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| Origin | |
| Mill location | to the south of Mill Road east of Thrigby |
| Grid reference | TG46821207 |
| Coordinates | 52°39′07″N 1°39′51″E / 52.65181°N 1.66417°E |
| Year built | c. 1790s |
Thrigby Post Windmill is a historic windmill found in Mautby, a parish in the English county of Norfolk. It stands about 1.03 kilometers (1125 yards) east of the village of Thrigby. This special mill is located north of the River Bure, Breydon Water, and the Halvergate Marshes.
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What is Thrigby Windmill?
Thrigby Post Windmill was built around 1790. Robert Woolmer, who owned Thrigby Hall nearby, had it constructed. The mill's main job was to grind wheat grown on the Thrigby estate.
How a Post Mill Works
This type of windmill is called a "post mill." It has a large, strong oak post in the middle. This post goes up through the roof of the roundhouse. The main part of the mill, called the "buck," sits on top of this post. The buck holds all the machinery and is covered with weatherboards to protect it.
The amazing thing about a post mill is that the entire buck can be turned. This allows the mill's sails to face the wind no matter which way it is blowing.
Parts of the Mill
Thrigby Mill has four "common sails." These are the large blades that catch the wind. The mill is built over a brick "roundhouse." This roundhouse has two important jobs:
- It creates a covered space for storage.
- It protects the mill's base, called the "trestle," from bad weather.
The Story of Thrigby Windmill
You can see Thrigby Post Mill clearly on a map from 1797 made by Faden. This shows it has been an important landmark for a long time.
The Last Miller
The last person to operate Thrigby Mill was Alfred Hood. He was also a local farmer. He kept the mill working until 1889. After that, the mill stopped grinding grain.
A New Beginning
In 1892, a problem was discovered: tiny insects called death watch beetles had damaged the wooden parts of the mill. Because of this, the wooden structure was taken down. Only the brick roundhouse was left standing.
Almost 100 years later, in 1981, a man named Nick Prior bought the mill. He decided to bring it back to life! The roundhouse was fixed, and the entire mill was rebuilt.
Today, Thrigby Post Windmill is one of only three "post mill"s left in Norfolk. The other two are Garboldisham Windmill (between Thetford and Diss) and another new one being built at South Walsham.
