Author Archives: Tower Mill

The Mill in Grödersby

Jens Ole Sendke windmill

Groedersby windmill as featured on an old picture postcard posted in 1909.

Close to the German / Danish border, in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, in a small town called Grödersby, a rather splendid four-floor ‘Dutch’ windmill dating back to 1888 can be found.

Grödersby Groedersby mill

The Mill in Grödersby seen from a distance on a grey day in November. Photo by Jens Ole Sendke.

Unfortunately as the mill is now a private residence there is currently no public access.

Grödersby

Grödersby on a map of north-west Europe.

It is though possible to rent a beautiful nearby little house called Mühlenholz, which used to belong to the owners of the mill, at a very reasonable rate. Full details of the cottage can be found here.

Bremen Windmill

Bremen Mill Through Time

Bremen muehle mill

An old photograph of the mill in Bremen, Germany, c.1935.

Three images of the ‘Am Wall’ smock (Galerieholländer) mill in Wallanlagen Park, Bremen, north-west Germany.

windmill bremen

A late 1960s photograph of the late 19th century windmill from the grounds of the Hillmann Cafe.

The mill dates back to 1898 and is built around an eight sided base, with the upper part steered by a wind vane. The four sails of the windmill are shuttered.

mill bremen

An aerial view of the Am Wall mill in Bremen. As can be seen the mill is located in the middle of a city park.

This fine example of a smock mill is now home to a restaurant and the mill itself open tourists every afternoon on payment of a small charge.

The Jack and Jill Mills

Jack and Jill Windmills

A picture postcard image of the Jack and Jill / Clayton Mills, c.1904.

The ‘Jack and Jill’ mills are located in Clayton about seven miles north of Brighton and Hove in Sussex, south-east England.

Clayton windmills

An early 1920s image of Clayton Mills in Sussex.

‘Jill’ is a post mill built in Brighton and dating back to 1821. It was moved to its current site in 1852. It was last used commercially in around 1906. ‘Jill’ is in private ownership.

‘Jack’ is a five storey tower mill with a domed cap. It was built in 1866 to replace an earlier mill present on the site. The mill is believed to have last been used in 1907. ‘Jack’ has been restored, is in working order and is owned by Mid Sussex District Council.

Both ‘Jack’ and ‘Jill’ were originally corn mills.

Clayton Mills windmills

The Clayton (or Jack and Jill) Windmills in the 1930s.

The Jack and Jill windmills were featured in the 1973 film ‘The Black Windmill’, starring, Michael Caine and Donald Pleasance.

The Riddings Mills

Windmills ridding

The twin mills in Ridding, Derbyshire, c.1926.

The Riddings windmills were built in 1877 by local landowner James Oakes to run the Oakes Flour Mills. They were given the names James and Sarah. The mills last worked in 1925 and were then used as storerooms. Both mills were demolished in the mid 1960s and a housing estate is now located on the site once occupied by the mills.

windmills ridding

A picture postcard featuring the two Riddings windmills, c.1916.

Riddings is a village not far from Alfreton in the county of Derbyshire, England.

Ruffles Windmill

haverhill windmill

An old photographic picture postcard of Ruffle’s Mill in Haverhill, Suffolk, England.

Ruffle’s Windmill in Haverhill was built in 1797 and converted to a eight-spoke circular sail in around 1861. Although this form of sail was used in France it is believed to be the only mill with a circular sail ever used in the British Isles. Unfortunately the mill was demolished during the Second World War as it was thought that it might be used as a landmark by enemy aircraft.