Moulin à vent dit Steen-Meulen

English translation

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History

Built in 1864, this truncated cone tower mill, in brick, expresses by its form and material one of the final efforts to harness wind energy, at the moment when thermal energy and cheap coal were becoming the norm for activities other than milling. Perched on a motte, equipped with sails with large span crossbeams (24 metres), it is relatively archaic and subject to canvas covering; its interest lies in the Flemish procedure of the double chevron tail. One of the chevrons, wider than the mill body, allows it to overhang and to drive the dome and sails at two points, thanks to a transverse bar; the heaviness of manipulating the body of the tail is resolved by a drive carriage with toothed wheel running on a single-rail rack. This mill replaced a pivot mill and initially served as an oil press, and was subsequently equipped with two pairs of millstones, driven by the classic wooden gearing, of which the large wheel is fitted with a brake. Restored and maintained, this mill is capable of turning for demonstrations.