Killick's Mill, Meopham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Killick's Mill, Meopham |
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| Origin | |
| Grid reference | TQ 6394 6518 |
| Coordinates | 51°21′43″N 0°21′12.5″E / 51.36194°N 0.353472°E |
| Operator(s) | Kent County Council |
| Year built | 1801 |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn mill |
| Type | Smock mill |
| Storeys | Three-storey smock |
| Base storeys | Two-storey base |
| Smock sides | Six-sided |
| No. of sails | Four |
| Type of sails | Double Patent sails |
| Windshaft | Cast iron |
| Winding | Fantail |
| Fantail blades | Six blades |
| Auxiliary power | Oil engine |
| No. of pairs of millstones | Four pairs |
Killick's Mill is a special type of windmill called a smock mill. It's located in Meopham, Kent, England. This old mill was built way back in 1801 and has been carefully fixed up so people can still see it today. It's even listed as a Grade II* building, which means it's very important historically.
The Mill's Story
Killick's Mill was built in 1801 by three brothers from a family named Killick. They lived in a place called Strood. What makes this mill a bit unusual is its shape. Most smock mills have eight sides, like an octagon. But Killick's Mill has only six sides, making it a hexagon.
The Killick family ran the mill for many years, until 1889. Then, they sold it to the Norton family. The mill used wind power to grind corn until 1929. After that, it used an oil engine and later an electric motor to do the work, continuing until 1965.
In 1960, Kent County Council bought the mill. They decided to restore it, which means fixing it up to look and work like it used to. A company called E Hole and Sons, who were expert millwrights from Burgess Hill, did the restoration work. It cost about £4,375 at the time.
How the Mill Works
Killick's Mill is a three-storey smock mill. This means the main part of the mill, which looks like a person wearing a smock (an old-fashioned loose shirt), has three levels. It sits on a two-storey brick base. There's also a platform, or "stage," at the second-floor level.
The mill has four large "sails" that catch the wind. These are called double patent sails and are about 27 feet (8.2 meters) long. They are attached to a strong cast-iron pole called a windshaft. A special part called a fantail helps turn the top of the mill so the sails always face the wind.
Inside, there are big wooden gears. The main gear, called the Brake Wheel, is about 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 meters) across. Other gears, like the Wallower and Great Spur Wheel, are made of cast iron.
When the mill was first built, it had two pairs of millstones. These heavy stones grind the corn into flour. Later, a third and then a fourth pair of millstones were added. One of these extra pairs came from another mill. The mill also had an auxiliary oil engine, which was like a backup engine, to help with the grinding. At one point, the mill even made its own electricity to power lights inside!
Mill Operators
Many families worked hard to keep Killick's Mill running over the years. Here are some of the people and companies who operated the mill:
- James Killick (1801 - 1823)
- Sukey Killick (1823 - unknown)
- James Killick (1852 - 1889)
- Richard Killick (1882 - 1889)
- Thomas Killick (1882 - 1889)
- John Norton (1889 - unknown)
- William Norton (1889 - unknown)
- Leslie Norton (unknown)
- J & W Norton (1895 - 1950s)
- J & W Norton (Meopham) Ltd. (1950s - 1965)
In Movies and TV
Killick's Mill even made a brief appearance on television! It was shown in some old video clips used in an episode of a TV show called The Prisoner. The episode was titled The Girl Who Was Death and was filmed in 1967, then first shown in 1968.
