Monument record MLI41488 - Tower Mill, Bilsby

Summary

Tower Mill, Bilsby.

Type and Period (1)

  • (Post Medieval to Modern - 1820 AD? to 2050 AD)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

A tower mill situated to the east of the church. It was constructed in brick and still retains the mill gear. {1} This tower mill is said to have replaced a post mill in 1861 although some consider it to be older than this, possibly of early 19th century date. It has been raised from 4 to 5 storeys in height and was once hand-winded by wheel and endless chain. It worked by wind until 1932, carrying on for a number of years after with an engine. There were four patent sails driving three pairs of stones, of which two pairs of greys remain. One pair has iron spur gearing underneath for engine drive. Access to the mill is difficult due to an accumulation of rubbish but most of the gear is believed to remain. The tower stands capless and derelict. {2} An early 19th century tower mill. Early 19th century, altered and raised late 19th century. Red brick, partly tarred. 4 storey tapering tower with planked double doors and glazing bar pivot window to first floor on sides, and 2 light pivot to second floor on front. Top stage is later 19th century, with corbelled out eaves. {3} The tower mill was the subject of a building survey, conducted in 2014, prior to the conversion of the adjacent bakery buildings. The mill replaced the earlier post mill, depicted on a c.1819 map as being to the south of the village, off Farlsthorpe Road (see PRN49420). A later map, produced in 1824, shows a tower mill symbol on the site of the present mill, suggesting the new tower mill was in existence by this time. The mill is a circular tapering tower of five storeys, built of hand made bricks laid in English garden wall bond. The mill was damaged during a storm on the 16th November 1901, when the top and sails were wrecked. In repairing the damage, the upper five feet of brickwork was taken down and replaced with eleven feet of new red machine made brick, again laid in English garden wall bond. An eight horsepower portabel steam engine was introduced by 1893 to provide auxiliary power, though this was later replaced by a Blackstone oil engine in 1933, after the sails had been removed. {4}

Sources/Archives (4)

  •  Bibliographic Reference: Nikolaus Pevsner and John Harris, with Nicholas Antram. 1989. Buildings of England: Lincolnshire (Second Edition). P146.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Dolman, P.. 1986. Lincolnshire Windmills: A Contemporary Survey. p.12.
  •  Index: Department of the Environment. 1986. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. 3/60.
  •  Report: Jon A. Sass. 2014. Tower Mill, Bilsby. -.

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred TF 46989 76610 (5m by 5m) Surveyed
Civil Parish BILSBY, EAST LINDSEY, LINCOLNSHIRE

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

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External Links (0)

Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

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