1798
Westwood Marshes Mill built
Westwood Marshes Mill was built in the late eighteenth century, possibly in 1798.
Site overview
Westwood Marshes Mill is a Grade II listed tower mill at Walberswick, Suffolk. It was built in the late eighteenth century, possibly in 1798, and was used as a drainage mill. It also drove a pair of millstones for grinding feed for horses on the estate where it stood.
The three-storey tower had four common sails, a boat-shaped cap, a tailpole and winch, a cast-iron windshaft, a scoop wheel, and internal gearing. It worked by wind until 1940. The mill was damaged during the Second World War, repaired in the 1950s, and burnt out in an arson attack in October 1960.
It remains standing in derelict condition.
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
Westwood Marshes Mill was built on the marshes at Walberswick in the late eighteenth century, possibly in 1798. It was a three-storey tower mill used principally for drainage. The mill had a boat-shaped cap winded by a tailpole and winch, four common sails carried on a cast-iron windshaft, and machinery driving a scoop wheel.
It also drove one pair of millstones, used to grind feed for horses on the estate. The mill worked by wind until 1940. During the Second World War it was damaged when used for target practice.
It was repaired in the 1950s, restoring its external appearance, but in October 1960 it was badly damaged by fire in an arson attack. The cap and sails are now missing, but the red-brick tower remains. Surviving machinery includes the wooden upright shaft, crownwheel, pitwheel, and external cast-iron scoop wheel.
The mill is Grade II listed and remains a derelict drainage-mill survival on Westwood Marshes.
Timeline
1940
Wind working ended
The mill worked by wind until 1940.
1951
Grade II listing
The windmill on Westwood Marshes was listed as a Grade II building.
1960
Burnt out by arson
The mill was badly damaged by fire in an arson attack in October 1960.
Sources and records
Historic England listed building entry: Windmill on Westwood Marshes
Wikipedia article: Westwood Marshes Mill, Walberswick
Windmill World entry: Walberswick windmill
Mills Archive image record: Westwood Marshes Mill, Walberswick
Flickr photographic record: Westwood Marshes Mill
Wikipedia article: Westwood Marshes Mill, Walberswick
Windmill World entry: Walberswick windmill
Mills Archive image record: Westwood Marshes Mill, Walberswick
Flickr photographic record: Westwood Marshes Mill