—
Mill equipped with patent sails
The five-storey tower mill worked with four double-patent sails, a cast-iron windshaft, fantail, and internal stone and gearing machinery.
Site overview
Great Bircham Windmill is a five-storey tower corn mill built in 1846 for George Humphrey, replacing an earlier post mill on the same site. The mill stands on Mill Lane and retains a datestone inscribed G.H. 1846. It was built with a tarred brick tower, stage, Norfolk boat-shaped cap, fantail, four double-patent sails, cast-iron windshaft, brake wheel, upright shaft, spur wheel, and millstone machinery.
The mill remained in commercial use into the twentieth century before decline and later restoration. It now survives as one of Norfolk's best-preserved working tower mills, with milling demonstrations, visitor access, and associated bakery and tearoom use. The site retains both its historic fabric and a strong public heritage role.
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
Great Bircham Windmill was built in 1846 for George Humphrey on Mill Lane at Great Bircham. It replaced an earlier post mill on the same site and is thought to have involved millwrighting work by Aickman of King's Lynn. The five-storey tarred brick tower stands about 52 feet high to the curb and carries a datestone marked G.H. 1846 between the first-floor windows.
A stage was set around the second floor above the adjoining mill cottage and bakehouse. The mill was equipped with a Norfolk boat-shaped cap, fantail, four double-patent sails, and a cast-iron windshaft. Recorded machinery includes the brake wheel, upright shaft, great spur wheel, stone nuts, bolter gearing, and French burr stones.
The cap was recorded as weighing eight tons, the windshaft one ton, and the great spur wheel and upright shaft together three tons. The mill worked as a corn mill and remained in use into the twentieth century. After decline it was restored and returned to working condition.
It survives as a publicly accessible working windmill with milling demonstrations, a bakery, and associated visitor facilities.
Timeline
—
Mill restored as working heritage site
The tower mill was restored and returned to use as a working visitor windmill.
1846
Tower mill built
Great Bircham Windmill was built for George Humphrey, replacing an earlier post mill on the same site.
1846
Datestone installed
A datestone inscribed G.H. 1846 was set between the first-floor windows.
Sources and records
Norfolk Mills page: Great Bircham tower windmill
Wikipedia article: Great Bircham Windmill
Great Bircham Windmill visitor information
Wikipedia article: Great Bircham Windmill
Great Bircham Windmill visitor information