After seventy years, a timber jill, once used by millwrights, finds a home near Wicken Windmill thanks to volunteers.
The Wicken Windmill Partnership owns this item now. It is a heavy carriage, two-wheeled, horse-drawn. People called it a timber jill back then. They bought it at the end of last year.
Hunt Brothers of Soham first owned it. They likely built it during the 1800s. The jill moved timber and mill parts. Also, they rented it to others sometimes.
The Rural Life Living Museum had it in 1988. The museum is in Tilford, Surrey. They no longer needed the timber jill. A fundraiser helped bring it back.
Kelvin Law contacted that museum at first. He wanted photos and size details for the jill. He got way more than what he had asked for, too. They let us bring hers home too.
Earlier this month, they removed the fragile wheels. Workers prepped them for the big move here. A vintage crane loaded the jill carefully and it went to Wicken Windmill for work. They will restore and treat the timber well.
Tom Hunt wanted these words on display: “In memory of Thomas B. Hunt.” He was a millwright in Soham and his Waterside Works was a business site.
Hunt Brothers’ site is now houses. Kelvin thinks the jill’s display fits well. People can see it near where it once worked. The weekend of March 1st is the viewing.
The Wicken team fixed the windmill up fully. They now research local mills and millwrights. Hunt Brothers are a special interest for sure. They want old photos of the windmill and pictures from Hunt Brothers. They are curious about Waterside Works, Soham.