De Wieker Meule, De Wijk

De Wieker Meule
Origin
Mill name De Wieker Meule
Mill location Dorpsstraat 64, 7957 AS, De Wijk
Operator(s) Stichting Wieker Meule
Year built 1829
Information
Purpose Corn mill
Type Smock mill
Storeys Three storey smock
Base storeys Two storey base
Smock sides Eight sides
Number of sails Four sails
Type of sails Common sails
Windshaft Cast iron
Winding Tailpole and winch
Number of pairs of millstones Two pairs of French Burrs
Size of millstones 1.50 metres (4 ft 11 in)

De Wieker Meule is a smock mill in De Wijk, in Drenthe province of the Netherlands. It was built in 1829 and has been restored to working order. The mill is listed as a Rijksmonument, number 39657.[1]

Contents

History

De Wieker Meule was originally built in 1764 in De Leijen, Overijssel. In 1829, the mill was bought by Jacob Schiphorst Haalweide and moved to De Wijk. An extension was built against the base of the mill which housed two pairs of millstones driven by a diesel engine and later an electric motor. These were in addition to the two pairs of stones driven by the windmill. In 1926, the mill was bought by the Coöperative Landbouwbank. The ground floor was used at that time as a bank. In 1939, the sails of the mill were streamlined using the Dekker system. The mill cease to be used commercially in 1962.[2] Restoration of the mill started in 1978,[3] and was completed in 1980, with a new cap and sails. The Dekkerised sails were replaced with traditional Common sails. The Vereniging voor Vreemdelingenverkeer established an office in the base of the mill. In 1996, the mill was bought by the Stichting Wieker Meule (English: Wieker Mill Society).[2]

Description

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

De Wieker Meule what the Dutch describe as an "achtkante stellingmolen" - a smock mill with a stage. It is a three storey smock mill on a two storey base. The stage is at third floor level, 8.70 metres (28 ft 7 in) above ground level. The smock and cap are thatched. The cap is winded by a tailpole and winch. The four Common sails, which span 22.50 metres (73 ft 10 in), are carried on a cast iron windshaft, which was cast by millwright Enthoven in 1863. The windshaft carries a clasp arm brake wheel, which has 59 cogs. This drives the wallower (29 cogs) at the top of the upright shaft. At the bottom of the upright shaft the great spur wheel (105 cogs) drives two lantern pinion stone nuts, one having 34 staves and the other having 36 staves.[4] These drive the two pairs of 1.50 metres (4 ft 11 in) diameter French Burr millstones.[1]

Public access

De Wieker Meule is open to the public from 13:00 to 18:00 on Saturdays.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b "Technische gegevens" (in Dutch). De Hollandsche Molen. http://www.molens.nl/dbase/molen.php?&molenid=322. Retrieved 15 August 2009.  (Click on "Technische gegevens" to view)
  2. ^ a b "Geschiedenis van de Wieker Meule" (in Dutch). Stichting Weiker Meule. http://www.dewiekermeule.nl/geschied.htm. Retrieved 15 August 2009. 
  3. ^ "Geschiedenis" (in Dutch). De Hollandsche Molen. http://www.molens.nl/dbase/molen.php?&molenid=322. Retrieved 15 August 2009.  (Click on "Geschiedenis" to view)
  4. ^ "Techniek" (in Dutch). Stichting Weiker Meule. http://www.dewiekermeule.nl/techniek.htm. Retrieved 15 August 2009. 
  5. ^ "Informatie" (in Dutch). De Hollandsche Molen. http://www.molens.nl/dbase/molen.php?&molenid=322. Retrieved 15 August 2009.  (Click on "Informatie" to view)

External links

Dutch Rijksmonument 39657

Website of the mill