Buckland Windmill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buckland Mill |
|
|---|---|
The mill in 2006
|
|
| Origin | |
| Mill name | Buckland Mill |
| Grid reference | TQ 221 507 |
| Coordinates | 51°14′33″N 0°15′10″W / 51.242627°N 0.252694°W |
| Operator(s) | Private |
| Year built | Mid-19th century |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Saw mill |
| Type | smock mill |
| Storeys | Two-storey smock |
| Base storeys | Single-storey base |
| Smock sides | Circular smock |
| No. of sails | Four sails |
| Type of sails | Patent sails |
| Winding | Fantail |
| Fantail blades | Six blades |
Buckland Windmill is a special old building in Buckland, Surrey, England. It's a type of windmill called a smock mill, which looks a bit like a person wearing a smock (a loose shirt). This mill is super unique because it's the only wind-powered saw mill still standing in the whole United Kingdom! It has been carefully fixed up and can work again.
Contents
History of Buckland Windmill
Buckland Windmill was built a long time ago, sometime between the 1860s and 1870s. A mill builder named William Cooper from Henfield constructed it. The mill stands on the land of a house where carpenters who worked for the Buckland Court Estate used to live.
People didn't know about this windmill for a while! It was found in 1995, hidden by a big Yew tree growing very close to it. When the owners asked the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings for help, everyone was surprised. The mill had been missed by experts who wrote books about windmills in the area.
How the Mill Was Fixed (Restoration)
Fixing up the mill took many years of hard work. It started in 1995 and went until 1997. During this time, the building was repaired and made safe from bad weather.
Later, from 1999 to 2001, the top part of the mill (called the cap frame) was built. The big sails were put back on too. Then, starting in 2003, the team worked to make the mill able to saw wood again.
Many groups helped pay for this big project. These included BAA (which runs airports like Gatwick), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Mole Valley District Council, and the Surrey Historic Buildings Trust. The skilled mill builders were Tony Hole and Vincent Pargeter. Vincent Pargeter was in charge of making and fitting the sails. The mill's sails turned in the wind for the first time in February 2004, after all the repairs.
Awards for the Restoration
The amazing work to restore Buckland Windmill was recognized with special awards. In March 2004, the Surrey Historic Buildings Trust gave them an award. Then, in July 2004, the Surrey Industrial History Group also gave an award for the restoration.
What Buckland Windmill Looks Like
Buckland Windmill is a smaller type of windmill. It's a circular smock mill built on top of a two-story building. It has a small cap (the roof part) and gets its power from four special sails called Patent sails. A part called a fantail helps turn the cap so the sails face the wind.
