Crux Easton wind engine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crux Easton Wind Engine |
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The restored wind engine
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| Origin | |
| Mill name | Crux Easton wind engine |
| Grid reference | SU 4267 5634 |
| Coordinates | 51°18′17″N 1°23′21″W / 51.3046°N 1.3892°W |
| Operator(s) | Crux Easton Wind Engine Restoration Trust |
| Year built | 1891 |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Pumping mill, sawmill and corn mill |
| Type | Simplex geared wind engine |
| No. of sails | One sail |
| Type of sails | Annular sail |
| Winding | Fantail |
| Fantail blades | Six blades |
| No. of pairs of millstones | One pair |
| Type of saw | Circular saw |
| Other information | Built by John Wallis Titt |
The Crux Easton Wind Engine is a special type of windmill located in Crux Easton, Hampshire, England. It's a historic building, officially recognized as a Grade II listed site. This amazing machine was built by John Wallis Titt and was mainly used as a windpump to move water. Today, it has been carefully fixed up and is working again!
Contents
The Story of the Wind Engine
Building the Wind Engine
The Crux Easton Wind Engine was built in 1891. It was made for the Earl of Carnarvon, a very important person at the time. Its main job was to pump water from a really deep well, about 410 feet (125 meters) down!
When It Stopped Working
The wind engine was used for many years. However, it stopped working sometime in the 1920s. In the 1960s, its large sails were taken off. They were put away safely in storage.
Bringing It Back to Life
Years later, people wanted to fix the wind engine. The Hampshire Industrial Archaeology Society and the Hampshire Mills Group worked together. They got help from the British Engineerium in Hove. All this effort was for the Crux Easton Wind Engine Restoration Trust.
Funding the Restoration
Fixing such a big machine costs a lot of money. The Heritage Lottery Fund helped a lot. They gave a large amount of money for the project. Other groups also helped, like Basingstoke & Deane District Council and Hampshire County Council. Even the Vodafone Charitable Trust contributed.
Challenges and Reopening
The restoration work faced a delay. There was an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in 2001. This made it difficult to continue work for a while. But finally, the restored wind engine was ready! Sir George Young officially opened it on September 25, 2002.
How the Wind Engine Works
Design and Size
The Crux Easton Wind Engine is a special model called a Titt Simplex geared wind engine. It has a huge sail, about 20 feet (6.1 meters) across. This sail sits on top of a tall, hexagonal (six-sided) steel tower. The tower is about 35 feet (10.7 meters) high.
The Annular Sail
Instead of just a few blades, this windmill has an "annular sail." This means it's a circular sail with 48 smaller blades. Each of these blades is about 5 feet (1.5 meters) long.
Turning to the Wind
To make sure the sail always faces the wind, it has a "fantail." This is a smaller windmill with six blades. The fantail automatically turns the main sail into the wind.
What It Could Do
The wind engine's main purpose was to pump water. But it was also very versatile! It could power a circular saw to cut wood. It also had a pair of millstones. These stones could grind grain into flour. It was said to make eight to ten sacks of flour every day!
Visiting the Wind Engine
You can visit the Crux Easton Wind Engine! It is open to the public on certain days.
- It's open from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
- You can visit on the second Sunday of each month, from April to September.
- It's also open during both days of the National Mills weekend.
- If you want to visit at other times, you can make an appointment.
