New Mill, Willesborough facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New Mill, Willesborough |
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Willesborough Windmill in 2007
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| Origin | |
| Mill location | Willesborough, Ashford |
| Grid reference | TR 0313 4213 |
| Coordinates | 51°08′32″N 0°54′09″E / 51.14228°N 0.9025°E |
| Operator(s) | Kent County Council |
| Year built | 1869 |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn mill |
| Type | Smock mill |
| Storeys | Four-storey smock |
| Base storeys | Two-storey base |
| Smock sides | Eight-sided |
| No. of sails | Four |
| Type of sails | Patent sails |
| Windshaft | Cast iron |
| Winding | Fantail |
| Fantail blades | Eight bladed |
| Auxiliary power | Oil engine |
| No. of pairs of millstones | Four pairs |
New Mill is a special old smock mill located in Willesborough, Ashford, Kent. It's a type of historic building called a Grade II* listed building, which means it's very important. You can find it just west of junction 10 of the M20 motorway. The mill was built in 1869 and is now a museum that you can visit.
Contents
History of the Mill
New Mill was built in 1869 by a local builder named John Hill. It replaced an older windmill that used to stand in the same spot. Different families worked at the mill over the years, grinding corn into flour. The Cornes family worked there until the First World War. Later, the Manwaring family took over from 1920 until 1938. That was the last time the mill worked using wind power.
After 1938, the mill was sold and used mainly for storage. Some parts, like its "fantail" (which helps turn the mill into the wind), were even sold to other windmills. By 1969, the mill was in very poor condition. However, in 1991, Ashford Borough Council bought it. They worked hard to fully restore it, bringing it back to its original glory for everyone to enjoy.
How the Mill Works Today
Today, New Mill can make its own stoneground wholemeal bread flour. It uses one set of its large grinding stones for this. Sometimes, it uses wind power, but it also has a 14 horsepower (10 kW) Hornsby engine that can power the stones too.
The mill complex also includes a nearby barn. This whole area is a popular spot for different events. People can even have weddings and other special gatherings there.
Visiting the Mill
You can visit the Mill complex from April to the end of September. It's open on Saturdays, Sundays, and Bank Holiday Mondays from 2pm to 5pm. If you are part of a school group or another large group, you can arrange to visit on weekdays.
In 2006, the mill received a special grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This money helped them replace the huge sails, which were fitted on 13 April 2007. Part of the grant also helped create an Education pack for school visits. Now, the windmill is fully working again and can grind flour using either wind or its engine.
Norman Museum
Inside the mill's barn complex, you'll find the Norman Museum. This museum is all about Norman Cycles. Norman Cycles was a company based in Ashford that used to make bicycles, autocycles, mopeds, and motorcycles. At the museum, you can see some of their old mopeds and bicycles on display. The Norman Cycles Club, a group for fans of these old bikes, is also based at the Windmill.
How the Mill is Built
New Mill is a four-storey smock mill. This means it has four levels in its main body, which looks a bit like a smock or a dress. This main part sits on a two-storey brick base. There's also a miller's cottage attached to the mill.
The mill has four large patent sails. These sails are connected to a strong cast-iron shaft called a windshaft. When the wind blows the sails, the windshaft turns. This movement then powers four pairs of millstones, which grind the grain. There's also a fifth pair of millstones that can be powered by an auxiliary engine. In the past, this was a steam engine, then an oil engine, and now it's an electric motor.
The main wheel inside, called the Brake Wheel, is made of both iron and wood. This wheel turns another part called the Wallower, which is on a long Upright Shaft. At the bottom of this shaft, there's a large gear called the Great Spur Wheel. This gear then turns the millstones, making them grind the flour.
Images for kids
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Mill in 1982
