Collis Mill, Great Thurlow

Collis Mill is a Grade II* listed[1] smock mill at Great Thurlow, Suffolk, England, which has been restored.

Collis Mill, Great Thurlow
Collis Mill, September 2005
Map
Origin
Mill nameCollis Mill
Mill locationTL 671 500
Coordinates52°07′N 0°26′E / 52.117°N 0.433°E / 52.117; 0.433
Operator(s)Private
Year built1807
Information
PurposeCorn mill
TypeSmock mill
StoreysThree storey smock
Base storeysOne storey
Smock sidesEight sides
No. of sailsFour Sails
Type of sailsCommon sails
WindingFantail
Fantail bladesEight blades
Auxiliary powerPortable steam engine
No. of pairs of millstonesTwo pairs

History

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Collis Mill was originally built at Slough, Berkshire. It was moved to Great Thurlow in 1807[2] replacing an earlier post mill.[3] Thomas Hunt, the Soham millwright, carried out repairs to the mill in 1914. It ceased working by wind in 1915 and the sails were removed from 1920.[2] The mill was worked by a portable steam engine until 1937.[4] The derelict mill was capless in 1959 when it was purchased by R A Vestey for restoration as a visual amenity.[5] Restoration was completed in 1962.[3]

Description

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Collis Mill is a three-storey smock mill on a single storey brick base. It has four Common sails and the pepperpot cap is winded by a fantail.[2] It has two pairs of underdrift millstones.[5]

Millers

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  • Thomas Gardner 1841-44
  • Joseph Dearsley 1845-50
  • Elijah Dearsley 1850-75
  • Archibald Robinson 1875-
  • Gabriel Savage
  • Joseph Collis -1937

Reference for above:-[3][4]

References

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  1. ^ Historic England. "WINDMILL, GREAT THURLOW, ST EDMUNDSBURY, SUFFOLK (1376729)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  2. ^ a b c Dolman, Peter (1978). Windmills in Suffolk. Ipswich: Suffolk Mills Group. p. 43. ISBN 0-9506447-0-6.
  3. ^ a b c Regan, Dean (1997). Windmills of Suffolk. Suffolk: Dean Regan. p. 40. ISBN 0-9531562-0-6.
  4. ^ a b Brown, R J (1976). Windmills of England. London: Robert Hale. p. 174. ISBN 0-7091-5641-3.
  5. ^ a b Flint, Brian (1979). Suffolk Windmills. Woodbridge: Boydell. pp. 50, 110. ISBN 0 85115-112-4.
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