Crowfield Windmill, Smock mill in Crowfield, Suffolk, England
Crowfield Windmill is a wooden smock mill set on a brick base with four sails and a rotating cap controlled by a fantail. Inside the three-story structure are millstones that once ground grain for nearby farms.
The mill began as a drainage mill near Great Yarmouth before being relocated to Crowfield in 1840. A storm severely damaged it in 1916, but it continued operating with an auxiliary engine until the mid-1930s.
The mill shows how grain was processed for local farms and what role wind-powered machinery played in the community's daily life. Walking around it, you notice how central such buildings were to rural villages and their survival.
The mill sits in open countryside and is visible from the road, though access inside may be limited. Check ahead about visiting conditions and whether you can view the interior or only the exterior.
Few people realize that after being severely damaged by a storm, the mill found a second working life. The addition of an auxiliary engine shows how millers adapted to new times rather than simply closing down.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
