Buxhall Windmill
{{Short description|Former tower mill at Buxhall, Suffolk, England}}
{{Infobox windmill
|name = Buxhall Smock Mill
|name_of_mill = Buxhall mill
|location_of_mill =
|gbgridref = TL 996 577
|coordinates = {{coord|52.1819|0.9189|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
|operator =Clover family
|built =1815
|purpose =Corn mill
|type =Smock mill
|storeys =
|base_storeys =Three-storey base
|smock_sides =Eight-sided smock
|sail_number =Four sails
|sail_type =
|windshaft =
|winding =
|fantail_blades =
|pairs_of_millstones=
|stone_size =
|lost = Demolished 1860
|other =
}}
{{Infobox windmill
|name = Buxhall Tower Mill
|image = Buxhall Mill.jpg
|image_size = 250px
|caption = The converted mill
|name_of_mill = Buxhall Mill
|location_of_mill =
| gbgridref = TL 996 577
|operator = Private
|built = 1860
|purpose = Corn mill
|type = Tower mill
|storeys = Three storeys
|base_storeys = Three-storey base
|sail_number = Four Sails
|sail_type = Patent sails
|windshaft = Cast iron
|winding = Fantail
|fantail_blades =
|auxpower = Oil engine
|pairs_of_millstones= Five pairs
|stone_size =
|lost =
|other = Built on base of previous smock mill
}}
Buxhall Mill is a tower mill at Buxhall, Suffolk, England which has been converted to residential accommodation.
History
There have been three windmills on this site. The first mill was a post mill. It was marked on Joseph Hodgkinson's map of 1783 and described as "newly erected" in a newspaper report of it burning down as the result of suspected arson on 9 July 1814.Colchester Gazette, 16 July 1814 (Wailes p194-95)
The second mill was a smock mill. It was built by Samuel Wright, millwright of Needham Market. The account for building the mill reads as follows:{{cite book | first =Rex| last = Wailes|author-link=Rex Wailes |year = 1954| title = The English Windmill |pages=194–205, Plate IIIa| publisher = Routledge & Kegan Paul| location = London}}
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Item
!scope="col"| £ !scope="col"| s. !scope="col"| d. |
|---|
| scope="row"| To building a smock wind Mill as per agreement
| 520. | 15. | 11¾. |
| scope="row"| To extra Studdg & partitions in wheat bin 88 feet 9 in.{{efn|name=Note|This means {{convert|88|ft|9|in|m|2}} linear measurement of timber.}}
| 3. | 8. | 9. |
| scope="row"| To large meal hopper contg 48 feet{{efn|name=Note2|This means a bin with a capacity of {{convert|48|cuft|m3}}.}}
| 2. | 8. | 0. |
| scope="row"| To a pair of pullie Blocks Irond up with Screw Eyes to do.
| 1. | 11. | 6. |
| scope="row"| Total
| 528. | 3. | 5¾.{{efn|name=Note3|Actual total should be £539. 4. 2¾.}} |
Notes
{{Notelist}}
In the 1850s, a steam mill was erected close to the smock mill. It was powered by a beam engine and drove two pairs of millstones. a third pair was added at a later date, along with other machines for cleaning grain and dressing flour. This proved to be too much for the beam engine with the result that the beam broke and the engine was wrecked. The mill was worked by the Clover family until 1860 when it was dismantled. The machinery, cap and sails from the smock mill were incorporated into the new tower mill. Work started on 8 May 1860 and was completed in February 1861.
Buxhall Mill was built by William Bear, the Sudbury millwright at a cost of £506 6s 9d. The lower three storeys formed the base of a smock mill which stood on the site previously. The mill was worked by wind until November 1929 when the sails were damaged in a storm. The swing-pot neck bearing was removed and sold to John Bryant of Pakenham mill. It was eventually installed in that mill in 1950 by Amos Clarke, the Ipswich millwright.{{cite book | first =Brian| last = Flint| year = 1979| title = Suffolk Windmills | pages= 31, 33, 35–36, 42–43| publisher = Boydell| location = Woodbridge| isbn = 0-85115-112-4}} In the 1940s Buxhall mill was stripped of its millstones and refitted as an engine driven mill, in which form it worked until 1971. The mill had lost its cap by 1971, with the cap frame remaining on the top of the tower.{{cite book | first =Peter| last = Dolman| year = 1978| title = Windmills in Suffolk | pages= 14, 41| publisher = Suffolk Mills Group| location = Ipswich| isbn = 0-9506447-0-6}}
Description
{{for|an explanation of the various pieces of machinery|Mill machinery}}
=Tower=
=Cap, sails and fantail=
Buxhall Mill had a domed cap with a gallery. It was {{convert|17|ft|6|in|m|2}} diameter and {{convert|14|ft|m|2}} high internally. The four patent sails had eleven bays of three shutters, and spanned {{convert|80|ft|m|2}}. They were carried on stocks of {{convert|55|ft|m|2}} long, {{convert|13|in|mm}} square at the poll end. The sails were {{convert|33|ft|6|in|m|2}} long and {{convert|8|ft|6|in|m|2}} long. They were fitted with Catchpole's Air Brakes. These provided extra power in light winds, but acted as an effective air brake in strong winds. The windshaft weighed 38 cwt (1,930 kg) and cost £38. 0. 0. new in 1860. The cap was winded by an eight bladed fantail. An unusual feature of this mill was the cast iron gutter around the curb, which collected rainwater from the cap and delivered it to the ground via a downpipe on the outside of the mill.
=Machinery=
The mill drove four pairs of millstones, a fifth pair being described as "of small size". The upright shaft was in two sections. It carried a {{convert|6|ft|2|in|m|2}} cast iron great spur wheel with 96 cogs. The spur wheel weighed 2 tons 13 cwt (2,693 kg) and cost £32. 0 .0 new in 1860.
Millers
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.windmillworld.com/millid/1024.htm Windmill World] webpage on Buxhall Mill.
{{Windmills in England}}
Category:Smock mills in England
Category:Tower mills in the United Kingdom
Category:Windmills completed in 1815
Category:Windmills completed in 1860
Category:Grinding mills in the United Kingdom