De Achlumer Molen, Achlum

De Achlumer Molen
De Achlumer Molen, May 2009
Origin
Mill name	De Achlumer Molen
Mill location	Hitzumerweg 3, 8806 TR Achlum
Coordinates	53°09′12.68″N5°30′5.29″E / 53.1535222°N 5.5014694°E / 53.1535222; 5.5014694 Coordinates: 53°09′12.68″N5°30′5.29″E / 53.1535222°N 5.5014694°E / 53.1535222; 5.5014694
Operator(s)	Stichting De Fryske Mole
Year built	1851
Information
Purpose	Drainage mill
Type	Smock mill
Storeys	Three-storey smock
Base storeys	Single-storey base
Smock sides	Eight sides
No. of sails	Four sails
Type of sails	Two Common sails and two Patent sails
Winding	Tailpole and winch
Type of pump	Archimedes' screw

De Achlumer Molen is a smock mill in Achlum, Friesland, Netherlands which has been restored to working order. The mill is listed as a Rijksmonument, number 15821. ^[1]

History

De Achlumer Molen was built in 1851 to drain the Achlumer Noorderpolder. It worked by wind until 1954 when the cap and sails were removed and the smock tower fitted with a thatched conical roof. After that, an electric motor drove the Archimedes' screw. ^[2]

In 1981, ^[2] the mill was bought by Stichting De Fryske Mole (English: The Frisian Mills Foundation). The previous owner, Haye Thomas, a Dutch TV journalist, sold the mill for ƒ1. ^[3] In September 2006 it was decided to restore the mill. The work was undertaken in the summer of 2007. ^[4] On 18 October 2007 the new cap and sails were fitted to the mill. The restoration was carried out by Bouwbedrijf Hiemsta of Arum. ^[5]

Description

For an explanation of the various items of machinery, see Mill machinery.

De Achlumer Molen is what the Dutch describe as an achtkante grondzeiler – a smock mill whose sails reach almost to the ground. It is a three-storey smock mill on a single-storey base. ^[2] The smock and cap are thatched. The mill is winded by a tailpole and winch. The sails are one pair of Common sails and one pair of Patent sails. The Common sails are carried on the inner stock. They have a span of 18.60 metres (61 ft 0 in); the Patent sails are carried on the outer stock. They have a span of 18.70 metres (61 ft 4 in). They are carried on a cast-iron windshaft which was cast by Koning in 1909. It is 4.15 metres (13 ft 7 in) long. The Brake wheel has 51 cogs. It drives the wallower (27 cogs) at the top of the upright shaft. At the lower end of the upright shaft, the crown wheel (42 cogs) drives the Archimedes' screw via a gearwheel with 39 cogs. ^{[1] [5]} The steel screw is 1.20 metres (3 ft 11 in) diameter and 4.45 metres (14 ft 7 in) long, its axle is 500 millimetres (1 ft 8 in) diameter. It is inclined at 22½°. Each revolution of the screw lifts 561 litres (123 imp gal) of water. ^[2]

Public access

Achlumer Molen is open to the public on the Dutch National Mills Day and also on the Frisian Mills Day. ^[5]

References

1. "Tehnische Gegevens" (in Dutch). De Hollandsche Molen. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2009. (Click on "Technische Gegevens" to view.)
2. Stichting De Fryske Mole (1995). Friese Molens (in Dutch). Leeuwarden: Friese Pers Boekerij BV. p. 170. ISBN   90-330-1522-6.
3. "De utskoat Nieuws - Volg Achlumer molen op de voet" (in Dutch). Stichting De Fryske Mole. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
4. "Geschiedenis" (in Dutch). De Hollandsche Molen. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2009. (Click on Geschiedenis to view.)
5. "Achlum, Friesland" (in Dutch). Molendatabase. Retrieved 20 August 2009.

External links

• Website