Monkton Windmill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Monkton Mill, Monkton |
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Monkton Windmill
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| Origin | |
| Mill name | Monkton Vaulted Tower Mill |
| Grid reference | NS 36209 28048 |
| Coordinates | 55°31′07″N 4°35′45″W / 55.518628°N 4.5958582°W |
| Operator(s) | Disused |
| Year built | Early 18th Century |
| Information | |
| Type | Vaulted Tower Mill |
| Storeys | Two |
| No. of sails | Four |
| Other information | Converted to a dovecote in the early 19th Century. |
The Monkton Windmill is an old building in Monkton, Scotland. It was built in the early 1700s as a windmill. Later, it became a dovecote, a home for pigeons. It stands on the land of the old Orangefield Estate. It's also on the site of an ancient Iron Age hillfort.
Contents
Building the Windmill
This windmill tower is about 9 meters (30 feet) tall. It was built in the early 1700s. The walls are thick, about 0.9 meters (3 feet) wide. They are made of rough stones. The tower gets a bit narrower at the top. This design helps it stay strong and not fall over.
The windmill used to have a wooden cap and sails. These parts are now gone. It has a strong vaulted basement, which is like an underground room. This room is 6 meters (20 feet) long. The tower has two main floors. A slanted roof covers the top.
There were once two doors at ground level. They were on opposite sides. The first floor has two small windows. A larger window was added later on the south side.
From Windmill to Dovecote
In the early 1800s, the windmill tower changed its purpose. It became a dovecot or "doocot." This was a special building for pigeons. It once had a "potence." This was a ladder-like structure. It helped people reach the nesting boxes inside. These boxes were made of fireclay.
History of Monkton Windmill
Monkton Windmill is a "vaulted tower mill." This type of mill is quite rare in the United Kingdom. It is more common in Scotland. The first mention of the Monkton Windmill was in 1773.
In the early 1800s, it was turned into a dovecote. It had special nesting boxes for pigeons. In 1971, the windmill was given a "Grade A Listing." This means it is a very important historic building. In the 1800s, local people called the tower "Dooket."
Why Dovecotes Were Important
Most large country estates had dovecotes. The Orangefield Estate was one of them. These buildings were very useful. They provided fresh meat and eggs. This helped add variety to meals, especially in winter.
Pigeon droppings also had a special use. They were a valuable fertilizer for farms. People also used them to make gunpowder. They were even used for dyeing linen and tanning leather.
Why Windmills Were Built Here
Windmills were often built in certain places. These included areas with little rain. They were also built where the land was flat. In coastal areas like Monkton, strong winds were expected. This made it a good spot for a windmill.
An old map from 1775 shows the Monkton Windmill. It clearly shows it working with four sails.
How Windmills Worked
A vaulted tower windmill has a fixed tower. On top of the tower is a movable cap. This cap holds the sails. People would turn the cap by hand. This made the sails face the wind.
The tower was built from local materials. Often, it was made of stone. It stood on a raised area. Below it was a stone-built vaulted room or cellar. This cellar often extended out from the mill's base. It acted as a room for receiving and sending out goods.
In 1954, the old windmill tower had brick pigeon-holes inside. These were removed by 1980. The tower then got a new slanted roof. The windcap could be moved by hand. A long pole helped turn it towards the wind.
Scottish windmills were mostly "meal-mills." They ground grains like wheat and oats. They also ground barley and crushed corn.
Inside a Dovecote
Dovecotes had nesting boxes all along their inside walls. They also had a "potence." This was a wooden ladder-like structure. It helped people easily reach the nest holes.
Monkton Windmill Today
Today, the mill has a slanted roof. A weather vane is on top. It looks like a running fox or dog. The door facing east is open. The door on the west side is now blocked up. You can only see its outline.
The vaulted basement is in good shape. However, it is mostly filled with earth and stones. Two small windows remain. A single larger window faces south. There are no parts of the old windmill machinery left. The pigeon nesting boxes are also gone. But you can still see some square stones. These might be parts of the old nesting holes. The mill clearly stands on a large stone platform.
Monkton Hillfort
The windmill stands inside an ancient Iron Age hillfort. This hillfort was oval-shaped. It had three ditches around it. An entrance was on the north-west side. You can see this fort in old aerial photos.
Interesting Facts
Many old windmills were no longer needed. So, they were changed into other things. Some became barns or stores. Others became ice-houses or look-out towers. Many, like Monkton, became dovecotes. Monkton is a good example of a vaulted tower mill. Other examples are at Sauchie, Dunbarney, Gordonstoun, and Ballantrae.
The James Macrae Monument is nearby. It is also called the "Orangefield Family Burial Ground." This monument remembers the owner of the old Orangefield Estate. The farm of Whiteside and the Monkton Windmill (now dovecote) are on this estate.
In 1828, a map by Thomson showed a "Millfarm." This is where Whiteside Farm is now. A Whiteside House was also shown on the map.
