Lower Mill or Opposition Mill was built in the 1790s by a Mr Ruffle. The sails were blown off in 1802.[2] She was working until 1926 and by 1935 was in need of repairs. These were completed in 1938 but the mill again deteriorated until it was purchased in 1972 by Frank Farrow and restoration began with the intention of returning the mill to working order, assisted by grants from Suffolk County Council and the Historic Buildings Council for England.[3] The windmill's restoration work was carried out by Gormley and Goodman Engineers of Warwickshire between 1979 and 1980. (see also Bromham Watermill and Stevington Windmill, Bedfordshire.[citation needed]
Description
For an explanation of the various pieces of machinery, see Mill machinery.
Lower Mill is a three-storey smock mill on a single-storey brick base. It has a beehive cap with a gallery which was winded by a fantail. The four Patent sails were 27 feet (8.23 m) long and 7 feet (2.13 m) wide carried on a cast-iron windshaft. They drove three pairs of French Burr millstones which are mounted on a hurst frame on the first floor.[2]
