Site overview

Buxhall Mill is a former corn mill at Mill Green, Buxhall, Suffolk. The present tower mill was built in 1860 on the base of an earlier smock mill and was completed in February 1861. It incorporated machinery, cap, and sails from the former smock mill.

The mill was fitted with patent sails, a fantail, a domed cap, four main pairs of stones, and a smaller fifth pair. Wind working ended in November 1929 after storm damage to the sails. In the 1940s the mill was stripped of its millstones and converted for engine-driven milling, which continued until about 1971.

The Grade II listed tower survives as a tarred red-brick structure without its cap or fantail, with the cap frame retained.

Map

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No site photograph is currently available. Images will be added as field visits are carried out.

History

Buxhall Mill occupies a long-established mill site at Mill Green. A post mill on the site was marked on Joseph Hodgkinson's map of 1783 and burned down on 9 July 1814. A smock mill was then built in 1815 and worked by the Clover family until 1860.

The present tower mill was constructed in 1860 by William Bear, the Sudbury millwright, at a cost of £506 6s 9d. Work began on 8 May 1860 and was completed in February 1861. The new tower used the lower three storeys of the previous smock mill as its base and incorporated the smock mill's machinery, cap, and sails.

The tower mill had patent sails, a domed cap, an eight-bladed fantail, and a stage at second-floor level. It drove four pairs of millstones, with a smaller fifth pair also present. Wind working ended in November 1929 after storm damage to the sails.

The swing-pot neck bearing was removed and sold to John Bryant of Pakenham Mill, where it was installed in 1950 by Amos Clarke. In the 1940s Buxhall Mill was stripped of its stones and refitted as an engine-driven mill. It continued in that role until about 1971.

By that date the cap had been lost, although the cap frame remained. The surviving Grade II listed structure is a large tarred red-brick tower, later made weathertight with a new roof.

Timeline

1814

Earlier post mill burned down

An earlier post mill on the site burned down on 9 July 1814.
1815

Smock mill built

A smock mill was built on the site in 1815.
1860–1861

Tower mill constructed

The present tower mill was begun on 8 May 1860 and completed in February 1861.
1929

Wind working ended

Wind working ended in November 1929 after the sails were damaged in a storm.
1940–1971

Engine-driven milling

In the 1940s the mill was refitted as an engine-driven mill and remained in use until about 1971.
2001

New roof fitted

The tower was made weathertight with a new roof fitted in 2001.

Sources and records

Historic England listed building entry: Tower Mill, Mill Green, Buxhall
Wikipedia article: Buxhall Windmill
Windmill World entry: Buxhall windmill
Mid Suffolk District Council buildings at risk register entry: Tower Mill, Mill Green, Buxhall
Suffolk Mills Group index of Suffolk windmills