|
In 1932 this remarkable building, one of the oldest surviving windmills in the country, was given to the Cambridge Preservation Society. It is now a scheduled ancient monument and has undergone many repairs and rebuilds during its lifetime. It has even been the inspiration for much of the work of our most eminent contemporary architect, Lord Foster, OM - see the plans of the building he prepared whilst a student, below.
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.
Over the centuries the mill has looked out over a changing landscape. The first grain to be brought here would have been grown in medieval open fields, and arrived by packhorse and cart along the track through 'Mill Field'. In 1806 the open fields were enclosed and a new landscape of small hedged fields was created. Changes continue today, with the new community of Cambourne taking its place within the historic landscape of Bourn Mill.
The mill at Bourn has changed hands many times over the last four centuries. The first recorded owner was John Cook, who sold the mill in 1636 to Thomas Cook of Longstowe. By 1701 the mill was owned by John Bishop, a baker, grinding grain for his own bakery. In 1741 his grandson, Richard Bishop, was killed when part of the mill blew down as he struggled to turn the sails in high winds. Despite this tragedy the mill stayed linked to the Bishop family until 1875. The initials of some of the Bishop family are carved into the post of the mill.
The last miller at Bourn was George Papworth, whose father was the landlord at 'The Fox' in Bourn. In 1926 the introduction of the paraffin engine made the mill redundant, and it was sold for £45.
How does it work?
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 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 huge sails, harnessing the energy of the wind.
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.
In violent storms the miller must carefully judge the position of the sails to prevent them pulling on the wooden gears and brakes, which might lead to fire through friction. Fire is a big risk in wooden mills.
The mill's careful and thorough restoration was honoured in 1987 by a Civic Trust Commendation and a Europa Nostra Diploma. Recently the Society has been awarded a National Heritage Lottery Fund Grant to repair the sail stocks and improve public information on, and access to, the Mill.
Next page
|
|
