Broad
Eye WindMill The
Windmill was built in 1796 with stone from the early Shire
Hall by John Wright, a banker. The Mill had 2 pairs of Common
sails and 3 sets of millstones (or grinding stones) on the
5th floor. The lease was acquired by The Wrights in 1818,
It is unknown who the Millers were until Martin John Wright
took on the lease. It is unknown at present if John and Martin
Wright were related. By 1824 it was owned by John Twigg of
Weeping Cross. At
some time between 1835 and 1847, steam power was introduced
to supplement the sails. By 1847 a second more powerful steam
engine had been installed to drive two (2) additional pairs
of millstones on the second floor. This engine was on the
first floor, not in the engine house built for the first
one that was of the nodding donkey type. By 1925 the mill
was converted into a butcher's shop for Brandons Brothers. In
1919 the lower part of the windmill was converted into a
shop. The first occupiers were the Brandon Brothers. From
the early 1920's until 1931 it was a butcher's shop trading
under then name of Geaorge Foster. In 1931 the business was
sold to Percy Palmer who kept a general stores. In 1932 the
tenancy was taken over by John Burrows, shoe repairer, there
he remained until after the outbreak of the World War Two
during which time the building fell into a ruinous state.
In January 1951 the windmill became a listed building. In
1966 the Friends of Broad Eye Windmill was formed to care
for the mill with the intension of returning it to its former
glory. Now known as Broad Eye Windmill, the group continue
the work of restoring the mill and have just opened the renovated
ground floor to visitors on special Open Days. 
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