Ramsey Windmill (EHER 3391)

Early 19th century (1842) post mill, believed to have been moved from Suffolk in 1842, last worked in 1939. The roundhouse is of red brick, the rest timber framed and weatherboarded.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. Wind mill. <1> A post mill with round house of red brick, buck timber-framed and weatherboarded, with fabric roofs. The buck is fixed with the sails to the north west. The fan is missing, but the rest of the drive survives. The mill is believed to have been moved from Woodbridge, Suffolk in 1842. <2> <3> Site Assessment = The drive is unique in Britain. By 1974 the mill was derelict. Repairs were made by the owner and the Suffolk Mills Group. Much timberwork was replaced, and all the cladding. <2> <3> The mill ceased to work in 1939. In 1937 it was sold to R.M. Scott of Ipswich, and it last worked in 1939. By 1974 it was derelict, with all the main timbers broken, on the verge of collapse. Repairs were effected by volunteers from the Suffolk Mills Group and the owner, Michael Organ. No attempt was made to correct deflections and distortions, but an ingenious system of steel girders, tie rods and brackets was inserted to prevent further movement. Much timberwork was replaced, and all the cladding. Listed. <2> <4> Recorded by NRIM. Photographed. <5> Field Survey 2011 24/05/2011 The condition of this important mill gives grounds for concern. Extensive deterioration of exposed external timberwork is clearly evident. Paintwork has weathered from most parts of the structure which is now unprotected. The brickwork of the roundhouse requires repointing and a thorough building inspection should be carried out prior to undertaking an urgent programme of repairs and maintenance work. The mill is now inaccessible and notices have been posted at the entrance to the roundhouse and at the bottom of the now decrepit rear ladder warning of the dangerous state of the building. The two sets of patent sails and the operating mechanism are still in position but some loss of framework has occurred to one of the sails. They have entirely lost their paintwork and green mould is present suggesting fairly extensive wet rot. Two French Burr millstones have been propped against the building at ground level and these are also weathering badly with loss of Plaster of Paris matrix. The mill is now clearly in a fixed position and cannot be turned for greasing and regular maintenance. This in itself gives ground for concern as to whether the post mill can survive. There was no sign of the fantail that was once located to the rear of the buck roof, neither does it appear in photographs taken in 2005. The owner was not present during the inspection but contact has been established. <6> Photographs <7> Additional references <8> <9>