Denver Windmill
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| Denver Windmill | |
| Windmill | |
 Denver Windmill
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| Country | England |
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| State | Norfolk |
| Region | East of England |
| District | King's Lynn and West Norfolk |
| Municipality | Downham Market |
| Location | Village of Denver |
| Height | 17.9832 m (59 ft) |
| Founded | 1835 |
| Owner | Norfolk Historic Buildings Trust |
| Visitation | Open All Year (1 April to 31 October, Monday to Saturday 10 to 5, Sunday 12 to 5 1 November to 31 March, Monday to Saturday 10 to 4, Sunday 12 to 4) |
| Website: http://www.denvermill.co.uk/ | |
| Map Ref: TL605013 | |
Denver Windmill is located[1] in the English county of Norfolk. It is in the village of Denver which is one mile south of Downham Market[2]. The mill used to be on the route of the A10 but is now by-passed. The mill is signposted from the new road route. The mill stands half a mile away from Denver parish church.
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[edit] Description
Denver Windmill is 59 feet tall and has six floors. The mill has four double shutter sails which drive 3 pairs of overdrive stones. The cap is of ogee horizontal boarding there is a gallery around its girth the cap also has a six bladed fan the grinding stones are on the 3rd floor. The preserved outbuildings include the mill house, steam mill, granary and stable block. One of the outbuildings directly under the mill originally had a section of its roof lowered to allow for the passage of the sails. The original wooden curb was replaced by reinforced concrete. Denver Windmill restoration program was completed in April of 2000 and the windmill has been open to the public since then. Visitors can explore the whole Windmill and guided tours are available. The mill produces its own flour made the traditional way wind permitting. The visitor center tells the story of windmills, corn milling and the people who lived and worked in these wonderful buildings. The Tea shop sells cakes and other goodies backed made from flour produced at the mill. The Windmill stone-grind its own specialty flour which includes whole meal, light brown, bran and a unique malty grain which is ideal for those wishing to have a healthier lifestyle. All these products are available in the gift shop.
[edit] History
The present windmill was built in 1835 but on a map dated 1824 [3] there is a postmill shown at the location. Today’s tower mill was built for John Parker who’s initials and the date of construction can be seen on a plaque just below the gallery. John parker also had the engine house with its tall chimney built[4] so that on days when there was not enough wind turn the sails of the windmill a steam engine could continue the grinding and milling process on the site. In 1873 the proprietor of the mill was James Gleaver who had taken it on from his father John. The mill remained the property of James Gleaves until 1896 when the mill was sold to Thomas Harris who remained working the mill until his death in 1925. On Thomas’s death his son, also Thomas took over the operation. The windmill was severely damaged in a gale in 1908 resulting in the sails needing replacement. In 1927 new sails were fitted and by this time the steam engine had been replaced by an oil fuel engine. The windmill continued to be powered by wind and oil until 1941 when in another storm one of the sails was struck by Lightning [5].
[edit] In to the 20th Century
Thomas Harris died in 1969 and left the mill to his sister Edith Staines. The mill had survived thanks to the constant maintenance and repair done by Thomas Harris with the help in later years of the Norfolk Windmill Trust. In 1971 Mrs Staines gave the mill to Norfolk County Council. In the summer of 1972 the windmill was once again damaged by a severe gale. This time one of the sails was blown right off its hub and fell on to the gallery and the mill office below that. The opposite sail was removed leaving only two sail surviving. In 1975 the stocks and sails were restored and replaced. The following year restoration was carried out to the floor support beams and thebrickwork of the tower was restored. In the same year another gale lifted the cap from its track and dropped it cracking the track and damaging the brickwork of the structure. The cap was eventually removed for restoration work to be carried out in 1991 and in 1992 further work was carried out on the sails.
[edit] Complete Restoration
In 1998 plans were made to make a complete restoration of the Windmill and the surrounding site. The Mill house was purchased to once again unite it to the mill. The purchase also provided for much needed car parking. In all nearly 1 million pounds was spent on the restoration and conversion works to provide visitors and restoring Denver windmill back to a working mill. The mill site is now owned by Norfolk Historic Buildings Trust and run by Denver Windmill Limited. Both organizations are committed to ensuring the conservation of this unique set of buildings for future Generations.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ The Norfolk Winmill Trust, Windmills to Visit Guide. 3rd Edition 1982. Page 7, The Morris Printing Co Ltd 57-61 Pitt Street Norwich, Location Details
- ^ Ordnance Survey (1999). OS Explorer Map 236 - King's Lynn, Downham Market & Swaffham. ISBN 0-319-21867-8.
- ^ [1] The history page, Line 1
- ^ [2] The history page, Line 5
- ^ [3] The history page, Line 36
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