The Windmill
... before Easter 2010
John Webb’s imposing windmill was built in 1804. Webb, a
local farmer, also owned the local brick and tile works (the source
of the mill’s materials) and the Georgian public house The
Swan, which you will pass shortly. It ceased to be an economically
viable mill around 1907, and spent much of the 20th century as a
youth and Scout centre, or merely derelict. Its restoration,
largely by public subscription, began in 1970, and in 1991 the
sails were restored. In 1996, the first corn in 90 years was
ground.
The views from the upper floors of the mill in all directions
are excellent, including to the southwest the ruins of the abbey at
Tilty which (to the great resentment of the abbott) was originally
given the responsibility for establishing and supporting
Thaxted’s Parish Church.
The windmill today
On Easter Monday 2010 one of the mill’s sails
fractured and fell off, fortunately missing the shocked visitors.
Fungus — dry rot — in the relatively new Norwegian pine
sail-stock was blamed (worryingly, many other UK windmills acquired
new sail-stocks from the same source at about the same time). The
other sails have been removed while the risk and cost of potential
solutions is assessed, leaving the mill looking rather
sad.
The mill houses a fascinating museum, including the 1835 Thaxted
town fire engine, and school-desks from the early 1800s. It is open
to the public on Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday afternoons from
Easter to the end of September, and has picnic tables in its
grounds.
The Walk (Part 2)
From the mill, walk back towards the church, keeping left along
Mill Row to the 'kissing gate', and follow the path between the
tiled Almshouses and the thatched Chantry.
Originally a 14th C Priest's House, The Chantry was for
centuries an almshouse, but was converted to a single dwelling by
Rev Conrad Noel (him again!) in 1933. The tiled Almshouses to your
left (built c1714) originally housed 16 almoners. Refurbished in
1975, they are now three dwellings.
When you emerge into the churchyard, turn round and appreciate the
view — another Tourist Board 'poster opportunity'.
On the tiled Almshouses, how many chimneys
(M) and how many front doors
(K) are visible?
Walk to the churchyard entrance in The Bullring (Birmingham, eat
your heart out!), opposite the fine Swan Inn, and turn left into
Bolford Street. Find the old Fire Engine House.
The Fire Engine was housed here from 18LH to
1930
Back to The Bullring, then take Newbiggen ("new buldings")
Street towards Saffron Walden. Formerly Vikere Street, this area
was developed in the 17th C by Flemish weavers. Some of the 'new'
Georgian fronts hide timber framed houses dating from as early as
1450. At number 32, there is a plaque commemorating the
constitution of The
Morris Ring on 2 June 193N.
The Ring meets in Thaxted on the first weekend of June every
year, when Morris Men arrive in their hundreds from all over the UK
and overseas. The town sign commemorates the importance of the
festival.
You should now have all the digits you need to find both this
cache and the
bonus cache. To check if you've got the location right for this
cache, go to
Geochecker.com. To reach the final location, return towards The
Bullring. You can then either cut down Margaret Street to your
left, behind The Swan, or enjoy a pint at the pub, then walk down
the main road to take in the
Church Micro cache on the way, if you haven't already done
so.