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Truncated tower survives
The surviving structure is described as a thatched truncated tower mill.
Site overview
Big Mill is a surviving truncated tower mill at Burwell, near Melton Farm. Windmill World identifies the site as Big Mill, Burwell, and describes it as a tower mill with a thatched truncated tower. The same source records two functions: corn milling and coprolite grinding.
It states that the mill was built in 1812 to grind corn, was being used to grind coprolites by about 1850, and had reverted to corn milling by the 1880s. Historic England archive material records the building as Mill To North Of Meltons Farmhouse, Newmarket Road, Burwell, and describes the photographed structure as a wind-powered industrial building with clunch, thatch and brick. The consulted sources do not provide a final working date or detailed account of machinery loss.
The present survival is a reduced tower rather than a complete windmill.
Map
Map markers and directions links are provided for location reference only and do not indicate public access or permission to enter a site.
No site photograph is currently available. Images will be added as field visits are carried out.
History
Big Mill stands at Burwell, north of Melton Farmhouse on Newmarket Road. Windmill World uses the name Big Mill and identifies it as a Burwell tower mill. Historic England archive material records the same structure as Mill To North Of Meltons Farmhouse and locates it on Newmarket Road, Burwell.
The mill was built in 1812 to grind corn. By about 1850 it was being used to grind coprolites, reflecting the documented industrial use of the mill beyond ordinary corn milling. Windmill World records that by the 1880s the mill had reverted to corn milling.
The source describes the surviving structure as a thatched truncated tower, and Historic England archive keywords identify clunch, thatch, brick, Georgian tower mill, windmill and wind power site. No full account of the cap, sails, windshaft, stones or internal machinery has been identified in the consulted sources. The surviving building is therefore best described as a reduced tower-mill remnant with a thatched top, rather than a complete preserved windmill.
Its present form preserves the visual evidence of the former tower and its later survival within the Burwell fen-edge landscape.
Timeline
1812
Big Mill built
Big Mill was built in 1812 to grind corn.
1850
Coprolite grinding recorded
By about 1850 the mill was being used to grind coprolites.
1880–1889
Corn milling resumed
By the 1880s the mill had reverted to corn milling.
Sources and records
Windmill World entry for Big Mill, Burwell
Historic England archive item for Mill To North Of Meltons Farmhouse
Mills Archive database entry for Big Mill, Burwell
Historic England archive item for Mill To North Of Meltons Farmhouse
Mills Archive database entry for Big Mill, Burwell