Bocking Windmill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bocking Churchstreet Mill |
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The restored mill in September 2005
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| Origin | |
| Mill name | Bocking Churchstreet mill |
| Mill location | TL 763 260 |
| Coordinates | 51°54′14″N 0°33′47″E / 51.904°N 0.563°E |
| Operator(s) | Friends of Bocking Windmill |
| Year built | 1830 |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn mill |
| Type | Post mill |
| Roundhouse storeys | Two storey roundhouse |
| No. of sails | Four sails |
| Type of sails | Two spring sails and two common sails |
| Windshaft | Cast iron |
| Winding | Tailpole |
| Auxiliary power | Portable steam engine |
| No. of pairs of millstones | Two pairs driven by wind, plus one pair driven by auxiliary power |
| Other information | |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Designated | 25 October 1951 |
| Reference no. | 1122492 |
Bocking Windmill, also known as Bocking Churchstreet Windmill, is a special old windmill in Bocking, Essex, England. It is a "Grade I listed" building, which means it is a very important historical site. This type of windmill is called a post mill because its main body can turn on a huge central post to face the wind. Today, it has been carefully fixed up so people can learn about how windmills used to work.
Contents
History of Bocking Windmill
Bocking Windmill was first built in 1721. It wasn't always in the same spot! It was originally located about 170 yards (155 meters) west of where it stands today. The first time the mill was mentioned in official papers was in 1721. These papers showed that Joseph Nash, a miller from Halstead, bought the land where the windmill was being built.
Moving the Mill
In 1830, the windmill was taken apart and moved to its current location. This new spot was across from a pub called "The Bull." At this time, the mill was owned by John Brown the Younger. It was also updated with new features, like a special type of millstone called "French burr stones." In 1837, the mill got a new sail that was over 31 feet (9.6 meters) long. This shows it had modern "spring sails" by then. The mill continued to grind corn for many years. It kept working commercially until about 1924, and even did some grinding for special orders after that.
Saving the Windmill
By 1929, the windmill was given to the Bocking Parish Council by its owner, Edward H Tabor. The local community helped raise over £400 to repair it. The repairs cost £225, and the rest of the money was saved to help pay for future upkeep.
However, by the early 1960s, the mill was in bad shape again. The local council launched another appeal to raise money. They promised to add a pound for every pound donated, hoping to collect £2,500. Many people helped, including a director from the Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. The mill was restored again in 1964 and officially reopened that November. A group called the "Friends of Bocking Windmill" was then created to make sure the mill would be looked after for a long time.
How Bocking Windmill Works
Bocking Windmill is a "post mill," which means its entire main body can rotate. It has a two-storey building underneath called a "roundhouse." The mill has four large arms, called sails, that catch the wind. Two of these are "common sails" and two are "spring sails." These sails turn a wooden shaft inside the mill. The mill is turned to face the wind using a long pole at the back called a "tailpole." The whole mill stands about 43 feet (13 meters) tall to its roof.
The Base and Roundhouse
The main support structure, called the "trestle," is made of strong oak wood. The main post is about 18 feet (5.5 meters) long. The roundhouse at the bottom is made of brick. It has two floors. On the upper floor of the roundhouse, there is a pair of millstones. These stones could be powered by a portable steam engine when there wasn't enough wind. The roundhouse was originally only one storey tall, but it was later made taller along with the mill.
The Mill's Body
The main body of the mill measures about 18.5 feet (5.6 meters) long and 11 feet (3.3 meters) wide. Over time, parts of the mill's structure were changed. This likely happened after 1830 when more millstones were added. These changes helped balance the mill better because of the extra weight.
Sails and Windshaft
The mill's sails are connected to a "windshaft." This shaft is now made of cast iron, but it used to be made of wood. The mill has four "double Patent sails." These sails are very wide, about 6 feet (1.8 meters) across, and have a total span of 60 feet (18.3 meters). Originally, the mill would have had simpler "Common sails" and a wooden windshaft.
Inside the Machinery
Inside the mill, there is a large "brake wheel" that helps control the speed. It is about 7 feet 8 inches (2.3 meters) wide and has 63 teeth. The mill originally had only one pair of millstones, but now it has two pairs. These millstones are used to grind corn into flour. There is also an "upright shaft" made of cast iron that helps power other parts of the mill, like a "flour dresser" which sifts the flour.
Millers of Bocking Windmill
Many millers have worked at Bocking Windmill over the centuries:
- Joseph Nash 1721–1733
- Joseph Nash Jr 1733
- Thomas French c1738–1774
- Bartholomew Brown 1774–
- Brown
- John Brown –1829
- John Brown Jr 1829–1837
- William Dixon 1850–1863
- Henry Playle 1874
- James Hicks 1890
- Henry Hawkins 1912–1924
