Artwork description:

This post mill was built in the late 18th century. The blue sails of the fantail help to make sure the mill is facing the wind at all times by turning the entire body, or 'buck', of the structure. The internal machinery is complete and in working order. It is a particularly fine example of a post mill and an outstanding local landmark. This property is now in the care of English Heritage (2010).

According to the Manorial Records, there has been a windmill in Saxtead since 1287. The current Saxtead Green Mill dates back to at least 1796 when the miller was Amos Webber. In 1810, the Mill House was built for Robert Holmes. The mill was raised a total of three times during its working life. The mill was tail winded c. 1853. Around this time, the sails were destroyed and remade but in 1854 Whitmore and Binyon, the Wickham Market millwrights fitted new cast iron machinery and windshaft, and the layout of the machinery changed from Head and Tail to Breast stones. It was in this year that the mill was raised for the third time. Collins, the Melton millwright worked on the mill in the 1870s and Whitmore and Binyon again worked on the mill in the 1890s. From 1926 millwright Jesse Wightman (who was initially apprenticed to A S Aldred the Miller) assisted the owner with repairs until the mill ceased working commercially on the death of the last miller in 1947.

The mill passed to Mr Steven Charles Sullivan, (1908–1997) the son-in-law of A S Aldred, who placed the mill in the guardianship of the Ministry of Works in 1951. The mill is currently owned by Stephen and Jonathan Sullivan (ensuring the Mill has been in the ownership of the same family since 1873) The mill was completely rebuilt between 1957 and 1960 under the supervision of Jesse Wightman. A replacement crowntree was obtained from a windmill at Wetheringsett which had been demolished. The mill has been in the care of English Heritage since 1984
The mill was repaired, with a new pair of sails made in 2008.

This piece of Art is made from - Archival 310gsm Baryta Photographic Paper..and not forgetting the passion, love, determination, creativity, imagination and skills required to produce it.

Materials used:

Baryta 310gsm Archival paper

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