East Wittering Windmill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids East Wittering Windmill |
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The mill in 2005
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| Origin | |
| Mill name | East Wittering Mill |
| Mill location | SZ 797 973 |
| Coordinates | 50°46′12″N 0°52′16″W / 50.770°N 0.871°W |
| Operator(s) | Private |
| Year built | c1810 |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn mill |
| Type | Tower mill |
| Storeys | Four storeys |
| No. of sails | Four sails |
| Type of sails | Two Spring sails and two Common sails |
| Winding | Fantail |
| No. of pairs of millstones | Two pairs |
The East Wittering Windmill is an old windmill located in East Wittering, Sussex, England. It is a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical structure. Today, the windmill is no longer working and is in a ruined state.
Contents
The Windmill's Story
The East Wittering Windmill was first mentioned in records around 1810. It was built to grind corn, turning grain into flour. This type of mill is called a tower mill because it has a tall, round stone or brick tower.
A Look Back in Time
The windmill used wind power to operate until 1895. Its large sails, which caught the wind, were taken off in 1896. Many years later, in 1931, the top part of the windmill, called the cap, was blown off.
The mill tower remained, and even in 1974, some of its old machinery was still inside. However, in May 1975, a fire broke out. The fire badly damaged the tower, and the main shaft that held the sails (called the windshaft) fell inside.
What the Windmill Looked Like
The East Wittering Windmill was a four-storey tower. Its outside was covered with cement. It had four large sails: two were Spring sails and two were Common sails. Spring sails were a bit more advanced, using springs to adjust to the wind. Common sails were simpler, often made of wooden frames with canvas cloth.
How it Worked
The top of the mill, known as a beehive cap because of its shape, could turn to face the wind. This was done by a special tail-like structure called a fantail. The fantail had small blades that would spin and automatically turn the cap into the wind.
To help set the sails, there was a travelling stage around the mill. Inside, the mill had two pairs of millstones. These large, heavy stones would grind the corn. The millstones were underdrift, meaning they were driven from below.
Today, only the ruined tower of the windmill remains.
People Who Ran the Mill
Here are some of the millers who worked at the East Wittering Windmill:
- Robert Woodman (1845)
- William Stevens (1855)
- T Souch (1866)
- R H Sparkes (1870)
- E Redman (1887)
- Richard Stevens (1887 - 1895)
