Conserving Saxtead Green Post Mill
The earliest records of a mill in Saxtead date from 1287 and we know that the mill has stood on its present site since 1796. Of course, much of the mill has been replaced over the centuries, and English Heritage is now undertaking a tranche of conservation work to ensure that the mill will continue to be in place for generations to come.
A historic structure
Though milling ceased at Saxtead Green Post Mill in 1947, the mill remained in working order until recently. Over the years, weather and wear have taken their toll and the time has come for some major conservation work.
The mill on Saxtead Green is one of the best surviving examples of a post mill. This means it has a timber upper part (buck) which carries the sails. The whole buck revolves around a central post, carrying the external staircase with it. This ensures that the sails can move so that they always face the wind.
Watch the mill in action in 1948
This original British Pathé footage shows Saxtead Green Post Mill in action in 1948. The mill no longer produces flour but English Heritage are ensuring that it does not become derelict, like many of these original windmills.
Time for an update
A significant part of the conservation work includes replacing the stairs which lead up to the buck. These are essential: the stairs are a structural part of the mill. As well as providing access to the buck, they support the main structure and act as a brace during high winds.
The skilled millwright will copy the very specific design of these stairs to ensure they fit perfectly. Completely new windmill sails are also being built and similarly require extreme precision to ensure they function perfectly.
A work in progress
The sails were removed from the mill in 2017 and will be reinstalled after careful repair work by local millwright Tim Whiting in his Saxmundham workshop. The staircase and fantail have also been completely removed, leaving the mill in a state rarely seen!
These sails and stairs are minutely crafted by the millwright. Both demand exacting engineering to ensure that they fit perfectly and allow the mill to rotate smoothly and adjust to changes in wind direction. If the mill could not rotate around its post in response to the wind, it become dangerously unstable.
The millwright
After training as a cabinet maker and joiner, Tim Whiting worked under the guidance of Essex millwright Vincent Pargeter and began millwrighting in 2011. Since then he has been involved in many projects, from simple mill maintenance to full-on restorations, and enjoys the 'different perspective of construction ... that draws you into a different time'.
He now leads a small team of dedicated millwrights offering many different skills needed for modern millwrighting.
When can I visit the mill?
Due to this ongoing work, Saxtead Green Post Mill remains closed for the time being.
As you can imagine, the precision work required here is time-consuming. The conservation project is not only making improvements to the stairs, fantail and carriage wheels, but the stairs, sails and main post mill are also being repainted. All of this makes for a sizeable job.
It is anticipated that the mill will reopen in autumn 2019. Visitors will be able to enjoy the updated version of Saxtead Green Post Mill and explore this remarkable industrial structure for years to come.