1845
Dawson family association established
The Dawson family was associated with the Windmill and Mill House by the mid-nineteenth century.
Site overview
Rushmere St Andrew windmill was an octagonal smock mill at 113 Playford Road. It had cant posts seated on wooden sills on a shallow brick base and was noted for a green-coloured fly. The Dawson family occupied the Windmill and Mill House for more than a century.
By 1901 the business was run by Alfred Dawson, and by that time the mill used steam power as well as wind. The sails had been removed by 1928, the mill ceased use by 1934, and it was demolished around 1939.
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
Rushmere St Andrew windmill stood at 113 Playford Road as an octagonal smock mill with cant posts seated on wooden sills laid on a shallow brick base. It had two-piece shafts and an unusual green-coloured fly. The Dawson family occupied the Windmill and Mill House for more than a century.
William Dawson was associated with the mill in the mid-nineteenth century as a miller and farmer, and by 1901 Alfred Dawson had taken over the milling trade. By this period the mill was worked by steam as well as by wind. Alfred Dawson also developed an agricultural engineering business at the same premises, with the company listed in 1912 and 1922 for contracting work including steam rolling, motor haulage, steam ploughing, threshing, seed dressing, and related services.
The sails had been removed by 1928, leaving the mill powered by steam only. Mill use had stopped by 1934, and the mill was demolished about a year after Alfred Dawson's death in 1938. The agricultural engineering business continued under Douglas Dawson into the early 1970s.
Timeline
1901
Alfred Dawson ran the mill
Alfred Dawson had taken over the milling trade by 1901, when the mill was worked by steam as well as wind.
1928
Sails removed
The sails had been removed by 1928, leaving the mill powered by steam only.
1934
Mill use ended
Use of the windmill had stopped by 1934.
1939
Mill demolished
The smock mill was demolished around 1939.
Sources and records
Rushmere St Andrew Parish Council history page: Rushmere St Andrew Windmill and Dawsons Agricultural Engineering
Mills Archive catalogue entry: Smock mill, Rushmere St Andrew
Suffolk Mills Group windmill gazetteer
Windmills in the Borough of Ipswich
Mills Archive catalogue entry: Smock mill, Rushmere St Andrew
Suffolk Mills Group windmill gazetteer
Windmills in the Borough of Ipswich