Windmill Ter Rullegem

"Molen te Rullegem" is a stake mill on the mill wall in the Molenstraat, 1 km southeast of the church in Herzele. The current mill probably dates from around 1750, but it appears from ecclesiastical sources that a windmill has been running on the same hill much earlier: at least from 1424, perhaps even earlier.

Both the current and the disappeared windmill have been almost continuously noble property. From the beginning of the 16th to the beginning of the 19th century, the mill was owned by the Lord of Herzele, later by Baron van de Woestijne. In 1906, the windmill came into the possession of Count du Parc Locmaria. Until the end of the 18th century, the mill Te Rullegem was a ban mill. At that time, the inhabitants of the seigneury of Herzele were obliged to have their grain ground at the lord's mill, under penalty of fines and forfeitures. At that time, the miller was allowed to keep part of the ground product, a practice to which he owes his bad reputation.

The mill was protected as a monument on May 28, 1962. It was restored in 1966. At that time, however, insufficient attention was paid to the revolving work. Before 1966 the mill had a belly on the wind, for the benefit of a third stone couple, but this was then removed. The riveted flight was then replaced by a wooden flight of only 22 meters long.
After a blade fracture on 9 September 1990, welded steel rods of 23.10 metres were installed. The Flemish Community, the province and the municipality jointly subsidised 90% of the total cost of 1,100,000 francs.
In 2002 a new major restoration was carried out at a cost of almost 100,000 euros: new stone beam, new cross plate (N-Z), grinding of the rear mill (millstones and new pinion), re-bricking of the dies and painting.
Owner/volunteer miller Alain Goublomme regularly operates the mill on Sundays.

Crespo