Cherry Lane cornmill, Dereham, Norfolk
Cherry Lane cornmill (East Dereham towermill) was built in 1836 by Michael Hardy, a miller and baker and James Hardy, a millwright. The 42ft. five storey red brick tower was 24ft. in diameter at the base and topped with a Norfolk boat shaped cap with a petticoat, an iron railed gallery and a 6 bladed fantail. The two pairs of patent sails on an iron windshaft, drove two pairs of stones, a flour mill and jumper. A third pair of stones were later added on the stone floor. In 1862 auxiliary power came from a steam engine. in 1922 the sails were removed and the mill was powered by a paraffin engine via a shaft through the east window on the second floor, connecting to the underside of a wooden crown wheel on the upright shaft. In 1926 the paraffin engine was replaced by a diesel engine.
In 1937 the mill ceased working and by 1949 it was derelict.
On 1st. August 1972 the mill given a Grade: II listing building status (English Heritage Legacy ID: 219450).
In July 1973 the Green family partnership owned the mill and it was awaiting demolition for possible use as building land. Probably due to the fact the mill was listed it was bought in 1978 by Breckland District Council from Greens (Nurseries) Ltd. for £1.
In 1986 a new cap and fantail fitted followed by the fitted of new sails in 1987. On 14th September 1987 the mill opened to the public.
2002 saw the mill taken over by Dereham Town Council and in 2003 the Friends of Dereham Windmill commissioned a full survey of the mill by millwright Tom Davies.
During Tuesday 13th. January 2004 the mill lost part of a sail during a gale and in August 2005 an appeal was issued for old photos to find out the correct type of sails to replace the incorrect type fitted in 1987 refurbishment.
The sails were removed on Tuesday 8th August 2006 for renovation and an application for a £600,000 Lottery Grant was submitted. By February 2010 the mill was boarded up and left weatherproof as all attempts at finding funding had failed.
A new Board of Trustees was formed in October 2011 and they were successful in raising funds that lead to the windmill undergoing extensive renovations, including to the cap and the replacement of the sails in July 2013.
On 7th. September 2013 the renovated mill was reopened of as a Community Exhibition Centre.
Cherry Lane cornmill, Dereham, Norfolk
Cherry Lane cornmill (East Dereham towermill) was built in 1836 by Michael Hardy, a miller and baker and James Hardy, a millwright. The 42ft. five storey red brick tower was 24ft. in diameter at the base and topped with a Norfolk boat shaped cap with a petticoat, an iron railed gallery and a 6 bladed fantail. The two pairs of patent sails on an iron windshaft, drove two pairs of stones, a flour mill and jumper. A third pair of stones were later added on the stone floor. In 1862 auxiliary power came from a steam engine. in 1922 the sails were removed and the mill was powered by a paraffin engine via a shaft through the east window on the second floor, connecting to the underside of a wooden crown wheel on the upright shaft. In 1926 the paraffin engine was replaced by a diesel engine.
In 1937 the mill ceased working and by 1949 it was derelict.
On 1st. August 1972 the mill given a Grade: II listing building status (English Heritage Legacy ID: 219450).
In July 1973 the Green family partnership owned the mill and it was awaiting demolition for possible use as building land. Probably due to the fact the mill was listed it was bought in 1978 by Breckland District Council from Greens (Nurseries) Ltd. for £1.
In 1986 a new cap and fantail fitted followed by the fitted of new sails in 1987. On 14th September 1987 the mill opened to the public.
2002 saw the mill taken over by Dereham Town Council and in 2003 the Friends of Dereham Windmill commissioned a full survey of the mill by millwright Tom Davies.
During Tuesday 13th. January 2004 the mill lost part of a sail during a gale and in August 2005 an appeal was issued for old photos to find out the correct type of sails to replace the incorrect type fitted in 1987 refurbishment.
The sails were removed on Tuesday 8th August 2006 for renovation and an application for a £600,000 Lottery Grant was submitted. By February 2010 the mill was boarded up and left weatherproof as all attempts at finding funding had failed.
A new Board of Trustees was formed in October 2011 and they were successful in raising funds that lead to the windmill undergoing extensive renovations, including to the cap and the replacement of the sails in July 2013.
On 7th. September 2013 the renovated mill was reopened of as a Community Exhibition Centre.