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Sibsey Trader Mill - 21 july 1993
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Grid Reference TF344510
In my opinion this is the best looking of all the Lincolnshire tower mills, although I also believe that Alford mill has the best internal arrangement. The mill was built by Saunderson of Louth in 1877 to replace a small post mill, and what a difference the miller must have noticed when he first used his new mill! It is not exceptionally tall, containing only six floors above ground and the height to the top of the cap is 74 feet 3 inches. However the slenderness of the tower and the flat landscape in which it stands create the impression that it is bigger than it really is, and make the (admittedly large) sails look enormous in proportion.
It worked until 1954, latterly with four sails and was then allowed to become derelict. It was later taken over by the Department of the Environment who restored it in 1970 to 'static' condition. In 1981 they got the mill into full working order with Thompsons of Alford employed to make the hundreds of shutters needed and to get the fantail working. Several curb segments were replaced and the old ones remain on the ground, allowing an opportunity for detailed examination, usually denied.
The ground floor virtually empty but originally contained a hurst driven by engine from an adjoining shed. The elevator which formerly fed this remains and terminates in a hopper on the first floor. One spout passes down to the ground floor.
The first floor contains the tentering gear and spouts. The second floor gives access to the very ornate iron stage and contains the three remaining pairs of stones of the four pairs originally fitted. There are two pairs of grey stones and one pair of French. The grey runner stones have both been backed with concrete to increase their weight, a sure sign of a hard working life. The great spur wheel is of iron on an iron upright shaft and drives through mortice stone nuts. The third and fourth floors .are both bin floors although no bins actually remain, merely holes in the floor. The fifth floor is the dust floor and contains the iron sack hoist with an endless chain. The brake wheel and wallower are of iron, as are the brake and brake lever.
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