List of windmills in West Sussex facts for kids

West Sussex is a county in England with a rich history, including many windmills. These amazing structures used the power of wind to grind grain into flour or pump water. Some windmills are still standing today, while others have disappeared over time. This article explores some of the most interesting windmills found in West Sussex.

What are Windmills?

Windmills are buildings with large blades, called sails, that turn in the wind. This turning motion powers machinery inside the mill. Most windmills were used to grind corn or wheat into flour. Others were used to pump water, especially in low-lying areas.

There are different types of windmills:

• Post mills are the oldest type. The whole body of the mill, which holds the machinery, can turn on a central post to face the wind.
• Tower mills are usually made of brick or stone. Only the cap (the top part with the sails) turns to face the wind.
• Smock mills look a bit like a smock (an old-fashioned shirt). They have a wooden, often octagonal, tower with a turning cap, similar to a tower mill.
• Windpumps are smaller windmills mainly used for pumping water.

Famous Windmills in West Sussex

Angmering's Highdown New Mill

Highdown New Mill in Angmering.

In Angmering, you can find the Highdown New Mill, also known as Ecclesden Mill. This is a tower mill that was built in 1826. Tower mills are strong and sturdy, made of brick or stone. Only the top part, called the cap, rotates to catch the wind.

Barnham's John Baker's Mill

John Baker's Mill in Barnham.

Another impressive tower mill is John Baker's Mill in Barnham. It was built in 1829. Before this mill, Barnham had an "Old Mill" that was blown down in a storm in 1827.

Halnaker Windmill in Boxgrove

Halnaker Windmill, a famous landmark.

One of the most famous windmills in West Sussex is Halnaker Windmill in Boxgrove. This beautiful tower mill dates back to the 1740s. It stands on a hill and is a well-known landmark.

The Clayton Windmills: Jill and Jack

Jill (left) and Jack (right) at Clayton.

Jack, the tower mill at Clayton.

Near Clayton, you'll find a pair of windmills known as Jill and Jack. Jill is a post mill built in 1852, and Jack is a tower mill built in 1866. They stand close together and are a very popular sight. There was also an older post mill, Duncton Mill, built in 1765, which was demolished in 1866.

High Salvington Windmill in Durrington

High Salvington Mill.

The High Salvington Mill in Durrington is a post mill that dates back to around 1750. Post mills are unique because the entire body of the mill turns on a central post to face the wind. This mill is a great example of how these older windmills worked.

Somerley Mill in Earnley

Somerley Mill, a smock mill.

In Earnley, you can see Somerley Mill, which is a smock mill. It was built in 1803. Smock mills are often made of wood and have a wider base that tapers upwards, looking a bit like a smock.

East Wittering Windmill

East Wittering Windmill.

The East Wittering Mill is a tower mill built in 1810. It's another example of the strong, brick-built windmills that were common in the area.

Oldland Mill in Keymer

Oldland Mill, a historic post mill.

Oldland Mill in Keymer is a very old post mill, first mentioned in 1703. It's one of the oldest surviving windmills in the county and has been carefully preserved.

Nutbourne Windmill

Nutbourne Windmill.

The Nutbourne Mill in Nutbourne is a tower mill that was built in 1854. It's a good example of a later-built tower mill.

Nyetimber Mill in Pagham

Nyetimber Mill.

In Pagham, you'll find Nyetimber Mill, a tower mill from the 1840s. This mill is another reminder of the important role windmills played in local communities.

Medmerry Mill in Selsey

Medmerry Mill.

Medmerry Mill in Selsey is a tower mill that replaced an older post mill around 1827. It shows how mill technology evolved over time.

King's Mill in Shipley

King's Mill in Shipley.

King's Mill in Shipley is a smock mill built in 1879. It's a later example of a smock mill, showing that these designs were still being built towards the end of the windmill era.

Rock Mill in Washington

Rock Mill.

Rock Mill in Washington is a smock mill built in 1823. It's another well-known smock mill in West Sussex.

Meeten's Mill in West Chiltington

Meeten's Mill.

Finally, Meeten's Mill in West Chiltington is a smock mill built in 1838. It adds to the variety of windmill types found across the county.

Other Notable Windmills

West Sussex was home to many other windmills, some of which are no longer standing. Here are a few more interesting examples:

• Dell Quay Mill in Apuldram: This was a post mill from 1790. It was demolished around 1866, but its roundhouse (the base) was turned into a house.
• South Marsh Mill in Arundel: A tower mill built in 1830.
• Hammond's Mill in Billingshurst: A smock mill built in 1825, but it was blown down in 1906.
• Clymping Mill in Climping: An early post mill from 1780 was replaced by a smock mill in 1799. The smock mill was demolished in 1963.
• New Mill in Henfield: Also known as Barringer's Mill, this post mill was built in 1844 and sadly burnt down in 1954.
• Lowfield Heath Mill in Lowfield Heath: This post mill, built in 1762, was dismantled in 1987 and moved to Charlwood, Surrey, in 1989.
• Sullington Mill in Sullington: This post mill, built in 1800, burnt down in 1911. The windshaft (a key part of the mill) still remains on the site.
• Westham Windpump in Singleton: This hollow post windpump was moved to the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum in 1975. It's a great example of a mill used for pumping water.

Images for kids

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  The former Dell Quay Mill, now a house.

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  Arundel Castle with a windmill in the distance.

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  South Marsh Mill in Arundel.

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  Duncton Mill, an older mill at Clayton.

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  The base of Clymping Mill.

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  New Mill in Henfield.

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  Littlehampton with a windmill in the background.

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  A windmill near Pulborough in a painting.

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  The remaining windshaft of Sullington Mill.

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  Cissbury Mill in Worthing.

Maps

Historians and mapmakers have documented windmills in West Sussex for centuries. Here are some of the important maps that show where these windmills once stood:

• 1596 Robert Morden
• 1724 Richard Budgen
• 1762 John Rocque
• 1777 Andrews & Drury
• 1789 Lindley & Crossley
• 1795 Gardner & Gream
• 1813 Ordnance Survey
• 1823 C & G Greenwood
• 1823^* Bryant