Bacton Wood Mill

BACTON BACTON WOOD MILL ROAD TG 23 SE TG 33 SW 3/5 Bacton Wood Mill 4/5 - II*

Watermill, c.1780. Colourwashed brick and roof of concrete tiles. 3 storeys and attic. Brick plinth. Door to right with 2 mullioned casements to left, all under segmental arches. Milling floor with double access doors to right and one similar casement. 2 casements to second floor. Gabled weatherboarded lucam supported on arched braces rises to ridge of roof and is pierced by side and front casements. Gabled roof. Rear elevation of similar disposition but without lucam. Timber staircase rises to flat at attic level. Brick bridge over leat from mill pond supplies undershot internal waterwheel. Waterwheel in turn drives pit wheel and wallower on the upright shaft. Immediately above is great spur wheel driving stone nuts and governors. Additional wheels and pulleys at this level relate to oil engine installed C20. On milling floor 4 pairs of stones, one fitted with lifting crane and strapband. On second floor crownwheel and layshaft and sackhoist machinery. Attic floor converted to domestic use. Attached to east of mill a 2 storey miller's house in 3 bays : central door under gabled porch; windows are casements under segmental heads. All details C20. Gabled roof with concrete tiles. Bacton Wood Mill was birthplace and residence of Sir William Cubitt (1785-1861), the inventor of self-regulating windmill sails (1807) and the prison treadmill (1818). Knighted 1851 for services in connection with the Great Exhibition.

Listing NGR: TG2999830676