Edenbridge Windmill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Edenbridge Windmill |
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Postcard,1917
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| Origin | |
| Mill name | Edenbridge Mill |
| Grid reference | TQ 444 457 |
| Coordinates | 51°11′24″N 0°3′59.5″E / 51.19000°N 0.066528°E |
| Year built | 1815 |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn mill |
| Type | Tower mill |
| Storeys | Five storeys |
| No. of sails | Four |
| Winding | Fantail |
Edenbridge Mill is an old windmill located in Edenbridge, Kent, England. It is a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical site. Today, it's no longer a working mill but has been turned into a house. You can find it on the west side of Mill Hill, just north of the hospital.
The Mill's Story
Edenbridge Mill was built in 1815. You can even see the year 1812 on a red brick above a large window on the first floor. This might be when parts of the mill were planned or started. Old maps from the 1800s and early 1900s show the mill was an important landmark.
In October 1825, a mill builder named William Ashby from Westerham worked on the mill. He fixed a part called the neck bearing of the windshaft. He also repaired the sails in January 1826.
The top part of the mill, called the cap, was taken off in 1937. A flat roof was put in its place. This changed how the mill looked quite a bit.
What the Mill Looked Like
Edenbridge Mill is a tower mill made of brick. It has five floors and used to have a round, domed cap on top. The mill had four large sails that caught the wind. These sails were connected to a strong iron rod called a windshaft.
The mill used a special part called a fantail to turn its cap. This helped the sails face the wind, so the mill could work best. Inside, some of the original machinery is still there. This includes the wallower, an upright shaft, and a large iron gear wheel. These parts helped to turn the millstones, which ground the corn.
Old photos show there was a platform, or stage, on the first floor of the mill. This platform was likely used for working on the sails or other parts of the mill.
From Mill to Home
In 1990, the mill was sold to a developer. Over nine years, the building was carefully changed into a home. The outside of the mill was kept mostly the same. Only small changes were made, like making two small windows on the third floor a bit bigger.
An old air raid shelter that was near the mill was removed. The outdoor staircase, seen in older pictures, was replaced. A new staircase was built to meet modern safety rules for buildings.
Who Worked at the Mill?
Many people worked as millers at Edenbridge Mill over the years. They were in charge of grinding corn into flour. Here are some of the millers who worked there:
- Edward Bridger (1825 - 1839)
- H Sisley (1844)
- James Mellish (1845 - 1849)
- Stanford (1854)
- Moses Brooks (1864 - 1874)
- James Mellish & Son (1886)
