Bourn Windmill
Bourn, Cambridgeshire
Restored open trestle post mill
Photo by
Richard Thomas
Bourn Mill is a type of mill called an 'open
trestle post mill'. With the weight of the body, or 'buck' supported on a
central post which is in turn supported by a trestle.
The earliest record we have of the mill is from
1636, but it may be much earlier as this type of windmill has hardly changed
since the 13th century.
The buck has two floors. The upper stone floor
contains the grinding stones which rotate against each other to grind grain. The
upper or runner stone is turned by energy provided by the sails. Grain is poured
from a hopper into the gap between the stones and is ground into flour. A chute
carries the flour down into the meal bins on the lower floor.
The sails have to face squarely into the wind and in order to achieve this the
whole body of the mill, with all the machinery inside has to be rotated around
the central post using the tail pole. To stop the sails, the mill must be turned
again so that they are 'on edge' to the wind. It cannot be allowed to go too fast or the
friction between wooden pieces can cause heat and fire to break out.
A detailed sketch or drawing of the working of
this is on the
Cambridge preservation society website, but too small to see well.
Further information Grid
Planning Grid
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Location: |
Bourn Windmill,
Bourn, Cambridgeshire |
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Grid Reference: |
TL 312580 |
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Getting there: |
The Mill is
located between Bourn & Caxton. It can be reached by the A428 from
Cambridge, via Bourn village or the A1198 Royston to Huntingdon Rd.
Via Caxton.
Mill is ¾ mile
east of Caxton, signposted on open days only. |
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Access: |
There is a footpath that goes up the farm drive
and over the hill, passing within feet of the windmill. |
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Parking: |
There appears on the aerial photo to be a
small car park one field west of farm entrance. |
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Facilities: |
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Things To Do,
See and Photograph: |
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What to take: |
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Nature highlights: |
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Address: |
Enquiries
Janet Cornish
The Secretary
Cambridge Preservation Society |
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Postcode: |
Mill - CB3 7SU |
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Telephone: |
Tel - 01223 243830 |
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Opening times: |
Open on some special weekends.
Outside access
may be available at other times.
May to
September, last Sunday in the month and National Mills Sunday, 14.30 –
17.30. Other times by appointment. |
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Charges: |
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Photo Restrictions: |
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Other Restrictions: |
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Special Needs Access: |
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Special Needs Facilities: |
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Children Facilities: |
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Dogs Allowed: |
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CIN Page Ref: |
bourn |
Date Updated: 05/2008 |
Please let us know any other information that we
can add to the Further information and Planning Grids or page and any errors that you discover. Before making a long trip to any location it is always
wise to double check the current information, websites like magazines may be
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