Come polling day , many of us head to a local primary school or a village hall to cast our vote – but these options pale in comparison to this former polling station. Situated in the West Suffolk village of Thelnetham, the 18th-century landmark referred to by locals as Button’s Mill was once a place where residents of the Barningham ward could cast their votes, albeit for one year only. Dating back to 1778, the windmill was originally used to grind wheat into flour and has been the subject of lots of refurbishments over the years.
And, for the first time in its 200-year history, it was even used as a polling station during the 2019 General Election . At the time, the aptly-named volunteer and event organiser, Chris Mills, told Suffolk News that he was ‘pleased’ when the local landmark was selected. ‘I thought it was a great way to get people to come to the mill,’ he said.
The windmill meant people in the village could still cast a vote.’ In total, the parish has an estimated population of 263, according to the 2021 census, and the Barningham ward – which is made up of Thelnetham, Hopton, Market Weston, Hepworth, Barningham, Knettishall and Coney Weston – has a population of 2,697. The site, on the edge of Thelnetham Fen , is also one of only four preserved tower mills left in the county.
After becoming derelict in 1926, it was purchased for restoration by mill enthusiasts in the late 70s and it was refurbished by 1987. Today, the Grade II-listed mill can be .