Mellemolen, Akkrum
Encyclopedia
Mellemolen, formerly known as the Polslootpoldermolen (English: Polsloot Polder Mill) or Spookmolen (English: Ghost Mill) is a hollow post mill in Akkrum
, Friesland
, Netherlands
which has been restored to working order. The mill is listed as a Rijksmonument
, number 35937.
and stood at U. Twijnstrawel 21, 8491 CD, Akkrum.
The mill's condition again deteriorated under the ownership of the Gemeente Boarnsterhim. Concern was expressed about its condition by the Monumentenzorg
and De Hollandsche Molen
. Stichting Molens de Leeg Midden was formed and took over the mill. Plans were made to rebuild it at a new location. The mill was dismantled in 2003 and rebuilt at its new site. This was completed in June 2004 and the mill was renamed the Mellemolen. The work was carried out by Fabrikaat Hiemstra of Tzummarum
.
replaced it because he did not like the use of a cast iron windshaft in a Spinnekop. The brake wheel has 35 cogs, It drives the wallower (17 cogs) at the top of the upright shaft, which is contained within the post of the trestle
. At the lower end of the upright shaft, the crown wheel (30 cogs) drives the Archimedes screw via a gearwheel with 33 cogs. The Archimedes screw is made of wood. It has an axle diameter of 340 millimetre and a total diameter of 1.03 metre and is inclined at 26°. Each revolution pumps 236 litres (51.9 imp gal) of water.
Akkrum
Akkrum is a village in the Dutch province of Friesland. It is located in the municipality Boarnsterhim, about 17 km south of the city of Leeuwarden....
, Friesland
Friesland
Friesland is a province in the north of the Netherlands and part of the ancient region of Frisia.Until the end of 1996, the province bore Friesland as its official name. In 1997 this Dutch name lost its official status to the Frisian Fryslân...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
which has been restored to working order. The mill is listed as a Rijksmonument
Rijksmonument
A rijksmonument is a National Heritage Site of the Netherlands, listed by the agency Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed acting for the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.-History and criteria:...
, number 35937.
History
De Polslpootpoldermolen was marked on a map of Utingeradeel dated 1849. The mill was then known as the Spookmolen. In 1947 it was decided to replace the mill with an electrically powered pump. Permission was sought to demolish the mill but this was denied, as it was again in 1952. The mill was repaired in 1961 and 1971. On 13 November 1972 the mill was blown down in a storm. It was restored in 1976 at a cost of f80,000. At this time it was owned by the Gemeente BoarnsterhimBoarnsterhim
Boarnsterhim is a municipality in the northern Netherlands. The Dutch name is Boornsterhem.- Population centres :Akkrum, Aldeboarn , Dearsum , Eagum , Friens, Grou , Idaerd , Jirnsum , Nes, Poppenwier , Raerd , Reduzum , Sibrandabuorren ,...
and stood at U. Twijnstrawel 21, 8491 CD, Akkrum.
The mill's condition again deteriorated under the ownership of the Gemeente Boarnsterhim. Concern was expressed about its condition by the Monumentenzorg
Monumentenzorg
Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed , often abbreviated as Cultureel Erfgoed, is a Dutch heritage organisation working for the protection and conservation of National Heritage Sites. It is located in Amersfoort.- Responsibilities :...
and De Hollandsche Molen
De Hollandsche Molen
Vereniging De Hollandsche Molen is a Dutch organization founded in 1923 to preserve windmills in the Netherlands, to document them, and to restore them. Financial support comes from members and from grants by organizations such as the BankGiro Loterij...
. Stichting Molens de Leeg Midden was formed and took over the mill. Plans were made to rebuild it at a new location. The mill was dismantled in 2003 and rebuilt at its new site. This was completed in June 2004 and the mill was renamed the Mellemolen. The work was carried out by Fabrikaat Hiemstra of Tzummarum
Tzummarum
Tzummarum is a small village in Franekeradeel in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around the 1340 citizens ....
.
Description
Mellemolen is what the Dutch call a Spinnekopmolen (English: Spider mill). It is a small hollow post mill with an octagonal roundhouse. The four Common sails, which have a span of 14.08 metre are carried on a wooden windshaft which is about 2.6 metre long. The mill had a cast iron windshaft before the 2004 rebuild. The millwrightMillwright
A millwright is a craftsman or tradesman engaged with the construction and maintenance of machinery.Early millwrights were specialist carpenters who erected machines used in agriculture, food processing and processing lumber and paper...
replaced it because he did not like the use of a cast iron windshaft in a Spinnekop. The brake wheel has 35 cogs, It drives the wallower (17 cogs) at the top of the upright shaft, which is contained within the post of the trestle
Trestle (mill)
The Trestle of a Post mill is the arrangement of the Main post, crosstrees and quarterbars that form the substructure of this type of windmill. It may or may not be surrounded by a roundhouse...
. At the lower end of the upright shaft, the crown wheel (30 cogs) drives the Archimedes screw via a gearwheel with 33 cogs. The Archimedes screw is made of wood. It has an axle diameter of 340 millimetre and a total diameter of 1.03 metre and is inclined at 26°. Each revolution pumps 236 litres (51.9 imp gal) of water.