Fixed stone mill in Serreta, Canada do Eduíno

Category: Civil Architecture > Windmill

District: Açores > Angra do Heroísmo > Serreta > À Estrada

Location

This stone mill is located in the parish of Serreta, an area known for its natural and rural landscape. It is specifically situated in the area identified as Canada do Eduíno, a reference to a traditional local path or settlement. Its "À Estrada" (By the Road) position suggests relative accessibility, integrating into the road network that crosses Serreta.

The surroundings are typically Azorean, marked by green pastures and the characteristic vegetation of Terceira Island, offering a peaceful environment that invites a closer look at the remnants of the rural past.

Architecture and Materiality

This is a mill built entirely of stone, thus distinguishing itself from other types of mills, such as rotating wooden ones. The use of local stone gives it robustness and natural integration into the landscape. The structure is of a fixed type, meaning that the body of the mill, the stone tower, did not rotate to orient the sails to the wind. The conical or cylindrical shape of the stone tower is a construction feature designed to withstand strong winds and house the complex internal mechanism.

Historical Testimony

This mill represents an important element of the rural heritage of Terceira Island and, in particular, of the parish of Serreta. It belongs to an era when wind power was fundamental for grinding cereals, an essential activity for the subsistence of local communities. Its existence recalls traditional working methods and the dependence on natural resources for basic needs.

As a fixed stone mill, it illustrates one of the constructive typologies used on the island, adapted to local conditions and available materials. It is a silent testimony to the economic and social history of the region, allowing a glimpse into what life and work were like for past generations.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt