1831
Tower mill built
Pakenham Windmill was built as a five-storey tower corn mill.
Site overview
Pakenham Windmill is a five-storey tower corn mill built in 1831. It has a domed cap with gallery, fantail winding, patent sails, and surviving millstones. The Bryant family owned the mill from 1885, and steam was used as auxiliary power.
Restoration work took place in 1950, 1961, after lightning damage in 1971, and again by May 2000. The mill has been restored and maintained in working order.
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
Pakenham Windmill was built in 1831 as a five-storey tower corn mill. Clement Goodrich was miller in 1846, and the Bryant family took ownership in 1885. Steam power was used as auxiliary power.
The mill narrowly avoided being tail-winded in 1947. Restoration in 1950 included a new weatherbeam, a swing-pot neck bearing from Buxhall Mill, a second-hand stock from Thurston post mill, a gallery, and new sails. Further restoration followed in 1961, with work by R. Thompson & Sons Ltd of Alford.
The cap was rebuilt, a new stock and two new sails were made, and the fantail was rebuilt. Lightning struck the mill in June 1971, splitting a stock and damaging a sail; a lightning conductor was added when repairs were made. The most recent major restoration was completed in May 2000.
The mill retains a domed cap with gallery, fantail, patent sails, and two surviving pairs of millstones.
Timeline
1885
Bryant ownership began
The mill came into the ownership of the Bryant family.
1950
Restoration carried out
Restoration included a new weatherbeam, replacement bearing, stock, gallery, and new sails.
1961
Further restoration
Further restoration rebuilt the cap, made a new stock and two new sails, and rebuilt the fantail.
1971
Lightning damage repaired
Lightning split a stock and damaged a sail; a lightning conductor was added after repair.
2000
Major restoration completed
A major restoration of the windmill was completed in May.
Sources and records
Wikipedia article: Pakenham Windmill
Suffolk Mills Group site entry
Windmill World site entry
Mills Archive catalogue entries
Geograph site entry
Suffolk Mills Group site entry
Windmill World site entry
Mills Archive catalogue entries
Geograph site entry