Great Bircham Windmill

Geobox|Windmill
name = Great Bircham Windmill
category = Windmill


image_caption =Great Bircham Windmill


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country = England
state = Norfolk
region = East of England
district = King's Lynn and West Norfolk
municipality = King’s Lynn
location =Village of Great Bircham
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height =15.8496
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established =1846
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owner = Stevie & Elly Chalmers
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visitation =Open to the Public
visitation_date =The Windmill, tearoom, bakery and cycle hire is open from April until the end of September10 am to 5 pm daily
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map_caption =Great Bircham Windmill within Norfolk
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map_locator_x =28
map_locator_y = 13
website =http://www.birchamwindmill.co.uk/index.htm
footnotes =Map Ref: TF76033267

Great Bircham Windmill is located in the village of Great Bircham in the English county of Norfolk [ "OS Explorer Map 23”(Edition A 1997) – “Norfolk Coast West". ISBN 0-319-21725-6.] . It can be found on high ground to the west of the village on the B1153, three miles west of Docking. The windmill is open to the public between April and September.

Description

The land the windmill stands on was once part of the Houghton estate owned by the Marques Cholmondeley. In 1939 the Windmill was acquired by the Sandringham Royal Estate [The Norfolk Windmill Trust, Windmills to Visit Guide. 3rd Edition 1982. Page 7, The Morris Printing Co Ltd 57-61 Pitt Street Norwich, Location Details] . In 1976 the windmill was sold to a private owner. The windmill is approximately 52 feet tall and has five storeys. There is an inscription on a plaque between the first floor windows that reads GH 1846. There is a staging around the girth at the second floor height.Adjoining the Windmill there is a mill cottage and a Bakery. The base of the tower has a diameter of 23 feet and the walls have a thickness of 2 feet. The Tower was constructed using a yellow and red colored bricks. There are four double shuttered sails which have a span of 67 feet. Originally the sails turned 3 pairs of burr stones. The cap is of a ogee construction and has a 6 bladed fan.

Restoration

The restoration of this Windmill began in 1977. In 1979 the capping was replaced and the tower was coated with a black resin known as Bellecoat Stipple. The sails were replaced in 1981 and the restoration of the interior was begun. Three of the floors had to be replaced and replacement machinery and millstones were sorced from scowering farm sales and other derelict windmills.

Windmill Today

Great Bircham Windmill is one of the few surviving in order and working windmills. It is open to the public between April and the end of September. Visitors can climb the five floors up to the fan stage. On windy days the sails and the milling machinery operate. There are also many items of interest to see in the tearooms, bakery and grounds. The Bakery next to the mill still has its original coal fired oven as the bakery continued working after the mill first shut down and continued right up the 1950’s. Today breads and cakes are still baked on site.

Gallery

References