It is also an intriguing specimen of a windmill which was adapted to convey power to a wide variety of agricultural machinery (a chaff cutter, a wood lathe, a thresher and a circular saw). Inside, the building features surviving period fixtures and fittings. Following a comprehensive restoration, in 2013 the windmill won the prize for the Best-Preserved Rural Wooden Historical Building in the Podlaskie Province.

History

The windmill was erected in the years 1947-1948. Until the year 1950, it served as a source of power for the nearby chaff cutter, wood lathe, thresher and circular saw. It was only in the 1950s that a millstone assembly was installed inside the structure. The windmill continued to operate as a gristmill until 1972. Today, the windmill is in excellent condition, having undergone a comprehensive restoration.

Description

The windmill is located at the edge of the Koryciski village, on a piece of land owned by Bazyli Iwacik. It is a typical smock mill with an annex. The rotating cap with sails is covered with a gable roof. The body of the mill was designed on an octagonal plan, the length of each of its sides being 2 metres at the base. A simple deck with a crude wooden railing is positioned at the height of about 3 metres, surrounding the main body of the windmill. The total height of the structure is 12 metres. It is a wooden building with a post-and-beam structure, clad with vertical weatherboards, its roof covered with wood shingles. The interior is divided into the ground floor section and two upper storeys. At present, the ground-floor level serves as a carpentry shop. Inside, the windmill features a complete, original set of machinery and equipment.

The building can be viewed from the outside.

compield by Grzegorz Ryżewski, Regional Branch of the National Heritage Board of Poland in Białystok, 08-10-2014.

Bibliography

• Record sheet, Koryciski. Wiatrak holenderski, prepared by Pawlik M., Białystok 1982, Archive of the Regional Monuments Protection Office in Białystok.
• Konkurs na Najlepiej Zachowany Zabytek Wiejskiego Budownictwa Drewnianego w Województwie Podlaskim 2013, Białystok 2013, pp. 11-12.