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Few people know the existence of the windmill in our area.
But there have been at least four windmills assessed (census),
one of which can be found on the Farm's land.
The windmill dates back to the first
half of the 19th century and was completely derelict
before the Lavacchio Farm and the borough of Pontassieve were
encouraged to recover working parts and to restore the walling
from the rotating cusp and all the grinding (milling) machinery.
Restoration work started in June 2000 and finished in the
Autumn of 2001.
The meticulous and complete restoration
of the windmill, as well as the internal cog-wheels,
was based on analysis of the elements still present even if
badly damaged, and the study of this windmill type (torre-tower),
similar to that of Monterifrassine, still in working order
in Italy and in Europe.
The internal cog-wheels were made of
wood, of various features, depending on the type of
task to be undertaken.
The various wooden parts are assembled
thanks to accurate joints, while the more stressed
areas have been strengthened by metal stirrups and nails.
The pressing is on the ground level in the middle part of
the stone grinder, which rotates
from one level to another.
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