Site overview

Flixton Road Mill is a former wind-powered corn mill at Bungay, Suffolk. It was built in 1830 as a six-storey tower mill and had four patent sails, a boat-shaped cap, a fantail, a stage at second-floor level, and three pairs of millstones. Auxiliary power was provided by an engine, with an external drive belt enclosed in a wooden casing.

The mill worked by wind until 1918, when it was struck by lightning. It was later truncated by one storey and converted to residential accommodation. The surviving former mill is Grade II listed as The Tower Mill and stands on Tower Mill Road.

Map

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History

Flixton Road Mill, also listed as The Tower Mill, was built at Bungay in 1830. It was a six-storey tower mill designed for corn milling. The mill had four patent sails of ten bays, a boat-shaped cap winded by a fantail, and a stage at second-floor level.

Its machinery drove three pairs of millstones, with additional equipment including a dresser and jumper. Auxiliary engine power was available, and the external drive belt was carried in a wooden casing. The mill continued to work by wind until 1918, when lightning struck the structure.

After wind working ceased, the building was altered. It was reduced by one storey and converted into residential accommodation. The surviving tower is Grade II listed and is recorded as an early nineteenth-century former mill, now converted to a residence, with altered roof and no sails.

Timeline

1830

Tower mill built

Flixton Road Mill was built in 1830 as a six-storey tower corn mill.
1918

Wind working ended

The mill ceased to work in 1918 after being struck by lightning.
1972

Listed as The Tower Mill

The former mill was added to the National Heritage List for England as a Grade II listed building.

Sources and records

Historic England listed building entry: The Tower Mill, Bungay
Suffolk Heritage Explorer monument record: Tower Mill Road, Bungay
Windmill World entry: Bungay windmill
Wikipedia article: Flixton Road Mill, Bungay