De Heidebloem, Erica

De Heidebloem (English: Heather flower) is a smock mill in Erica, Netherlands. It was built in 1895. The mill is listed as a Rijksmonument, number 14962.[1]

De Heidebloem, Erica
De Heidebloem, February 2008
Origin
Mill name	De Heidebloem
Mill location	Verlengde Vaart ZZ 86, 7887 EP, Erica
Coordinates	52°43′3″N 6°55′35″E
Operator(s)	J. Tigelaar
Year built	1897
Information
Purpose	Corn mill
Type	Smock mill
Storeys	Three-storey smock
Base storeys	Two-storey base
Smock sides	Eight sides
No. of sails	Four sails
Type of sails	Common sails
Windshaft	Cast iron
Winding	Tailpole and winch
No. of pairs of millstones	One pair of Cullen stones, one pair of French Burr stones.
Size of millstones	Both 1.40 metres (4 ft 7 in) diameter

History

The mill was built by millwright Huberts of Coevorden in 1897.[2] It replaced an earlier mill which was built in 1877 and burnt down in 1895.[3] Between 1894 and 1911, the sails on the mill were rented from sailmaker Wouda of Meppel.[4] The mill was working until 1943,[2] when a stock broke. The mill then became derelict. In 1976, a proposal was put forward to move the mill to another location. This was not carried out and the mill was restored over the winter of 1977-78.[3] The restoration was carried out by millwrights Fabrikaant Roemeling & Molema of Scheemda, Groningen.[2] On completion of the restoration the mill was renamed Heidebloem. It is in working order and used to train millers in their work.[3]

The mill is privately owned and operated by J. Tigelaar of Erica; for his civic contribution, in 2004 Tigelaar was made a member of the Order of Orange-Nassau.[5]

Description

De Heidebloem is what the Dutch describe as an "achtkante stellingmolen", a smock mill with a stage. The brick base is two storeys and the three-storey smock and cap are thatched. The stage is 7.50 metres (24 ft 7 in) above ground level. The four common sails have a span of 20.20 metres (66 ft 3 in). They are carried on a cast-iron windshaft which was cast by the Koninklijke Nederlandse Grofsmederij in 1896. The windshaft also carries the brake wheel which has 68 cogs. This drives the wallower (35 cogs) at the top of the upright shaft. At the bottom end of the upright shaft the great spur wheel (121 cogs) drives two lantern pinion stone nuts, of 39 staves each. One stone nut drives a pair of 1.40 metres (4 ft 7 in) Cullen millstones. The other stone nut drives a pair of 1.40 metres (4 ft 7 in) French Burr millstones.[1]

Millers

• Jan ten Brink 1894-1901
• H Dijks 1903-05
• Jan ten Brink 1908-11
• J Tigelaar from 1978

Reference for above:-[5][6]

Public access

De Heidebloem is open to the public on Saturdays from 08:30-12:00 or by appointment.[7]

References

1. "Technische gegevens" (in Dutch). De Hollandsche Molen. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2009. (Click on Technische gegevens" to view.)
2. "Molens" (in Dutch). Encyclopedie Drenthe Online. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
3. "Geschiedenis" (in Dutch). De Hollandsche Molen. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2009. (Click on Geschiedenis" to view.)
4. "Erica, Drenthe" (in Dutch). Molendatabase. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
5. "Persbericht: Koninklijke onderscheidingen uitgereikt" (in Dutch). Emmen municipality. 29 April 2004. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
6. "De Huisvrouw in Westenesch" (in Dutch). xs4all. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
7. "Informatie" (in Dutch). De Hollandsche Molen. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2009. (Click on Informatie" to view.)

Dutch Rijksmonument 14962