Cornwerdermolen Explained

Cornwerdermolen
Name Of Mill:De Cornwerdermolen
Location Of Mill:Sotterruimerdijk 13, 8753 JA Cornwerd, Netherlands
Coordinates:53.0794°N 5.4017°W
Operator:Wetterskip Fryslân
Built:1907
Purpose:Drainage mill
Type:Smock mill
Storeys:Three-storey smock
Base Storeys:One-storey base
Smock Sides:Eight sides
Sail Number:Four sails
Sail Type:Patent sails
Windshaft:Cast iron
Winding:Tailpole and winch
Pump Type:Archimedes' screw

The Cornwerdermolen is a smock mill in Cornwerd, Friesland, Netherlands, which has been restored to working order. The mill is listed as Rijksmonument number 39329.[1]

History

The Cornwerdermolen was built in 1907 by millwright J H Westra of Franeker. The mill originally drained two polders, each via a separate Archimedes' screw. Five windmills were put out of work by the construction of the Cornwerdermolen and were demolished. The smaller of the two screws was later removed. The mill was restored in 1969. it worked until 13 November 1972,[2] when it lost two sails in a storm. Thereafter the work of the mill was done by an Archimedes' screw driven by a tractor. The tractor was later replaced by an electric motor.[3] The mill was restored in 1999. It is the most westerly windmill in Friesland.[4]

Description

The Cornwerdermolen is a three-storey smock mill on a single-storey base. There is no stage, the sails reaching almost to the ground. The mill is winded by tailpole and winch. The four Patent sails, which have a span of 20m (70feet), are carried in a cast-iron windshaft which was cast by H J Koning, Foxham, Groningen in 1907. The mill in winded by a tailpole and winch. The windshaft also carries the brake wheel which has 59 cogs. This drives the wallower (34 cogs) at the top of the upright shaft. At the bottom of the upright shaft, the crown wheel (103 cogs) drives the Archimedes' screw via a gearwheel with 37 cogs. The axle of the Archimedes' screw is 715mm diameter and the Archimedes' screw is 1.52m (04.99feet) diameter. It is 4.63m (15.19feet) long, inclined at 19½°. Each turn of the screw lifts 1147L of water.[3]

Public access

The Cornwerdermolen is open to the public by appointment.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Technische gegevens . . nl . 2 January 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120527125944/http://www.molens.nl/dbase/molen.php?&molenid=805 . 27 May 2012 . dead . (Click on Technische gegevens to view.)
  2. Web site: Cornwerd, Friesland . Molendatabase . nl . 2 January 2010.
  3. Book: Stichting De Fryske Mole . 1995. Friese Molens. 207. Friese Pers Boekerij bv. Leeuwarden . nl . 90-330-1522-6.
  4. Web site: Geschiedenis . De Hollandsche Molen . nl . 2 January 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120527125944/http://www.molens.nl/dbase/molen.php?&molenid=805 . 27 May 2012 . dead . (Click on Geschiedenis to view.)
  5. Web site: Informatie . De Hollandsche Molen . nl . 2 January 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120527125944/http://www.molens.nl/dbase/molen.php?&molenid=805 . 27 May 2012 . dead . (Click on "Informatie" to view.)