Windmill

MOULTON HIGH STREET TF 32 SW (east side)

9/105 Windmill (formerly listed 7.2.67 with buildings at 20.10.87 entrance to road)

G.V. I

Tower mill. c.1822, by Robert King, 1895, 1928. Brown brick. Corrugated iron shallow pointed roof of 1928, with finial, and dentillated brick eaves. 8 storeys plus basement, a total of 80 feet in height to the curb. 18 feet, 9 inches in diameter at ground level; 12 feet in diameter at curb. 3 round basement openings, one each to the south-east, south-west and north-west. To the north is a large drive wheel, part of steam engine gearing inserted after 1895 after the sails had been damaged by gales. West side with flanking flights of 8 stone steps on each side that lead up to doorway with cambered head and panelled door. 7 glazing bar casements, one above the other, above; that on the third floor inserted into blocked doorway that originally gave access to reefing stage. North and south sides each with 8 glazing bar casements, one above the other above. East side with a 2 storey granary attached masking the lower 3 storeys, the ground floor of early C19 and rendered, the upper floors of 1895 and in red brick. Both storeys with pivotal glazing bar casements. 5 glazing bar casements rise one above the other, above the roof of the granary. All the windows with cambered heads. Almost all the internal machinery survives intact. The basement contains the engine drive gearing of c.1895 which originally powered the subsidiary shaft rising up to the great spur wheel. The first floor contains an electrically powered Turner Inkoos Mill, a Kibbler and a Hunt's roller mill. The second floor contains storage bins and the third, originally the spent floor with bridge trees and now missing the governor. 2 pairs of French stones remain in place on the fourth floor, one inscribed: 'WJ & T Child.Maker. Hull. 1853'. Pair of grey stones lean against wall. Spur wheel with iron nuts and morticed wooden cogs, iron hub and rib, with wooden radiating spokes. Small iron nut engages the subsidiary drive shaft. Fifth and sixth floors with bins intact. Upper two floors are empty. Above, the wallower with chamfered and stopped wooden shaft with upper iron section, and an exceptional wooden clasp arm bevel wheel with wooden cogs. Endless chain sack hoist formerly driven from a friction rim on the underside of the wheel. Hexagonal wooden curb frame built into the brickwork, with iron track, inward facing tooth ring and centring wheels running below. The wind shaft no longer exists but the tail bearing housing remains. This is the tallest windmill in the country (not including the tallest complete windmill, including the cap, at Sutton in Norfolk). Source: Dolman, p.23. Buildings at entrance to road now demolished.

Listing NGR: TF3075524035