Windmill Deschodt or Moulin Briarde

The Moulin Deschodt (also known as the Moulin de la Briarde or Moulin de Riele) is a post mill in Wormhout, the Netherlands.

It is a very heavy mill which, for economic reasons, is made entirely of wood. The year of construction is 1756. The mill contains the inscription: MADE BY INGELBERTUS MARTYNUS ENDE PHILLIPUS FRANCOIS DE SMYTTERE 1756. The two-storey mill has an estimated weight of 80 tonnes and the sails have a wingspan of 24 metres. That is why the mill is called le géant des Flandres (the giant of Flanders).

In 1780 there was mention of the name Ondankmeulen, although it is not clear why. The name Moulin de la Briarde, which was often given to this mill, is in fact incorrect: This name initially referred to a mill located a few kilometers from the Moulin Deschodt.

In 1891, the mill was moved another 200 meters to place it closer to the miller's house. This was, thanks to the removable wooden construction, relatively easy.

As a result of the First World War, the miller died. The mill remained unattended for a few years, but in 1921 miller Abel Deschodt bought the mill. This made it possible to save it, in contrast to the 10 other windmills that the municipality still had in 1806. The mill was completely renovated and thus acquired its current appearance. In 1926 a new bolting device was installed and various mechanical power sources, such as a diesel engine, a locomobile and an electric motor, were also put into service. These are all still present.

In 1963 the production of flour stopped, after which grains were still ground for animal feed.

In 1966, Deschodt donated the mill to the municipality, one year before his death. After that, the miller's business was taken over by Abel's son Maurice. It wanted to turn again with wind force, but the sails no longer moved. Restoration work was carried out and metal blades were fitted. In 1983 the mill was ready to grind again. Later, the municipality also acquired the miller's house with its inventory, in order to turn it into a museum.

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