Caston Windmill

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Caston Windmill
Corn mill
TypeTower mill
StoreysSix storeys
No. of sailsFour sails
Type of sailsDouble Patent sails
Windshaftcast iron
WindingFantail
Fantail bladesSix blades
Auxiliary powerHornsby Oil engine
No. of pairs of millstonesThree pairs, a fourth pair driven by engine.
Size of millstones4 feet (1.22 m)

Caston Tower Windmill is a grade II*[1][2] listed tower mill at Caston, Norfolk, England which is under restoration. The mill is also a scheduled monument.[3]

History

Caston Windmill was built in 1864, replacing a

East Dereham. It bears a date stone inscribed EW 1864, referring to Edward Wyer, who had owned the post mill.[5]

The mill caught fire during a storm on 24 March 1895 but it is not recorded how much damage was done. The

public house, Caston, but remained unsold. Wyer's son James took the mill and ran it until 1910 when he retired. In that year, Wyer's brother-in-law Benjamin Knott took the mill. A new stock was fitted in August 1915 and a new sail fitted by Robert Martin, millwright of Beccles, Suffolk
, in September 1922, at which date the mill was painted. Knott ran the mill until 1940, latterly in partnership with his son James.

During Knott's tenure, a

Peak millstones from the windmill. Bilham died in 1967 and the mill was sold by his widow in October 1969.[5]

The mill was bought by millwright John Lawn, who intended to restore the mill to working order. The granary was converted to residential accommodation. Lawn entered into partnership with Philip Lennard as Lennard and Lawn (Millwrights) Ltd, at the time the only professional millwrights based in Norfolk. Lennard & Lawn did a lot of work for the Norfolk Windmills Trust and consequently the restoration of Caston Mill took place on an "as and when" basis.[5]

The cap and sails were removed on 23 November 1983.[6] John Lawn died in January 2000.[7] A memorial plaque was dedicated to him at Old Buckenham. The cap was refitted to Caston Mill in 2000.[6]

Description

For an explanation of the various items of machinery, see
Mill machinery
.

Caston Windmill is a six-storey tower mill with a two storey granary attached. There is a stage at second floor level.[5] The tower is 26 feet (7.92 m) outside diameter at ground level with walls 2 feet 6 inches (760 mm) thick. It is 17 feet (5.18 m) outside diameter at curb level.[6] The tower is 55 feet (16.76 m) tall to curb level. The boat-shaped cap is winded by a six-bladed fantail. The four double Patent sails have ten bays. Eight bays carried three shutters and two bays carried two shutters. The sails are carried on a cast-iron windshaft,[5] which also carries a 10 feet 4 inches (3.15 m) diameter wooden clasp arm brake wheel. The cast-iron wallower is carried on a wooden upright shaft.[6] The three pairs of millstones were driven underdrift.[5]

Millers

  • Edward Wyer (1864–97)
  • James Wyer (1897–1910)
  • Benjamin Knott (1910–?)
  • Benjamin & James Knott (?–1940)
  • James Bilham (1940–67)[5]

References

  1. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1076787)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
  2. ^ Historic England. "Caston Windmill and Granary (Grade II*) (1076787)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  3. ^ Historic England. "Monument No. 385768". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 3 July 2009.
  4. ^ "Caston postmill". Norfolk Mills. Retrieved 3 July 2009.
  5. ^
    ISBN 0-9509793-0-9
    .
  6. ^ a b c d "Caston towermill". Norfolk Mills. Retrieved 3 July 2009.
  7. ^ "One of the county's last millwrights". Paddy Apling. Retrieved 3 July 2009.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Caston_Windmill&oldid=1065377171"