Debden Windmill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Debden Mill |
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|---|---|
| Origin | |
| Mill name | Debden Mill |
| Mill location | TL 555 336 |
| Coordinates | 51°58′44″N 0°15′47″E / 51.979°N 0.263°E |
| Operator(s) | Private |
| Year built | 1796 |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn mill |
| Type | Tower mill |
| Storeys | Four storeys |
| No. of sails | Four sails |
| Type of sails | Double Patent sails |
| Windshaft | Cast iron |
| Winding | Fantail |
| No. of pairs of millstones | Three pairs |
Debden Windmill is a historic building in Debden, Essex, England. It is a special type of windmill known as a tower mill. This mill was built to grind corn into flour. Today, it is no longer used for milling. Instead, it has been turned into a home. It is also a Grade II listed building, which means it is an important historical site.
The Mill's Story: A Look Back in Time
Debden Windmill was built a long time ago, in 1796. It took the place of an older windmill nearby. That older mill was a post mill, which is a different style of windmill.
Just one year after it was built, in 1797, a man named William Thurgood insured the mill. He valued it at £500. This amount included the mill's working parts and the grain it held.
The mill faced some tough weather over the years. On March 26, 1882, a part called the fantail was blown off. The fantail helps the mill's cap turn to face the wind. Then, in October 1887, a strong wind blew off the mill's cap and sails. The cap is the top part of the mill, and the sails are the big blades that catch the wind.
Workers quickly fixed the damage. Repairs were finished by March 15, 1888. The mill kept working for many more years. It continued to grind corn until 1911. In that year, its sails and the main shaft (called the windshaft) were taken off.
After it stopped working, the mill was used for other things. In the 1930s, it became a scout hut. By the 1950s, it was mostly an empty shell. But in 1957, the mill got a new cap. It was then changed into a house, which it remains today.
How the Mill Worked: Inside and Out
Debden Windmill is a tower mill with four floors. When it was working, it had a cone-shaped cap on top. This cap had a walkway, or gallery, around it. A fantail on the cap helped it turn to face the wind. This made sure the sails always caught the most wind.
The mill had a strong windshaft made of cast iron. This shaft was connected to four large Double Patent sails. These sails spun around clockwise when the wind blew.
Inside the mill, the Brake wheel was made of wood. It turned a cast iron Wallower. The Wallower was on a wooden Upright Shaft. This shaft went down through the mill. At the bottom, a large wooden Great Spur Wheel turned. This wheel powered three pairs of millstones. These heavy stones ground the corn into flour.
People Who Ran the Mill
Many different millers worked at Debden Windmill over the years. A miller is a person who operates a mill and grinds grain. Here are some of the people who ran the mill:
- William Thurgood (1797)
- Isaac Thurgood (1832)
- John Holland Jr (1844)
- John Dennison (1855)
- Frank Holland (1870–1874)
- Alfred Ely (1878–1890)
- Charles (Clap) Ennos & Sons (1894 - 1910)
