Lower Mill, Dalham Explained

Dalham Mill
Name Of Mill:Lower Mill,
Opposition Mill
Coordinates:52.2267°N 0.5178°W
Operator:Private
Purpose:Corn mill
Type:Smock mill
Storeys:Three-storey smock
Base Storeys:One storey
Smock Sides:Eight sides
Sail Number:Four Sails
Sail Type:Patent sails
Windshaft:Cast iron
Winding:Fantail
Pairs Of Millstones:Three pairs

Lower Mill or Opposition Mill is a Grade II* listed smock mill at Dalham, Suffolk, England which has been preserved.

History

Lower Mill or Opposition Mill was built in the 1790s by a Mr Ruffle. The sails were blown off in 1802.[1] She was working until 1926 and by 1935 was in need of repairs. These were completed in 1938 but the mill again deteriorated until it was purchased in 1972 by Frank Farrow and restoration began with the intention of returning the mill to working order, assisted by grants from Suffolk County Council and the Historic Buildings Council for England.[2] The windmill's restoration work was carried out by Gormley and Goodman Engineers of Warwickshire between 1979 and 1980. (see also Bromham Watermill and Stevington Windmill, Bedfordshire.

Description

Lower Mill is a three-storey smock mill on a single-storey brick base. It has a beehive cap with a gallery which was winded by a fantail. The four Patent sails were 27feet long and 7feet wide carried on a cast-iron windshaft. They drove three pairs of French Burr millstones which are mounted on a hurst frame on the first floor.[1]

Millers

Reference for above:-[1] [3]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dalham Village - Windmill . dalham.com . 15 May 2009. (Scroll down left-hand menu and select "The Windmill")
  2. Book: Regan, Dean. 1997. Windmills of Suffolk. 26–28. Dean Regan. Ipswich. 0-9506447-0-6.
  3. Book: Brown, R J. 1976. Windmills of England. 166. Robert Hale. London. 0-7091-5641-3.