Nutley Windmill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nutley Mill |
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The mill in 2005
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| Origin | |
| Grid reference | TQ 451 291 |
| Coordinates | 51°02′35″N 0°04′05″E / 51.043°N 0.068°E |
| Operator(s) | Uckfield and District Preservation Society |
| Year built | Early nineteenth century |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn mill |
| Type | Open Trestle post mill |
| No. of sails | Four |
| Type of sails | Two Common sails, two Spring sails |
| Windshaft | Cast iron |
| Winding | Tailpole |
| No. of pairs of millstones | Two pairs, arranged Head and Tail |
Nutley Windmill is a very special old windmill located in Nutley, East Sussex, England. It's known as a 'grade II* listed' building, which means it's an important historical site. This type of windmill is called an 'open trestle post mill'. It has been carefully repaired and can now work again, grinding grain just like it used to.
Contents
The Windmill's Story
Early Days and Moves
Nutley Windmill is believed to have been moved from a place called Kilndown in Kent around 1817. The first official record of a windmill in Nutley appeared in 1840. Scientists have studied the wood in the mill. They found that one timber dates back to between 1738 and 1770. The main post, which is the central support, is even older, from between 1533 and 1570.
Changes Over Time
In 1870, the windmill was painted white. It had four 'common sails' that helped it turn in the wind. In the 1880s, the mill was updated. Its original wooden shaft, which held the sails, was replaced with a stronger one made of cast iron. The common sails were also replaced with 'spring sails'. Bigger millstones were added to grind more grain. Around this time, the mill was covered in tar, making it look darker. It continued to work by wind until 1908, though it was getting quite old and worn out.
Saving the Windmill
By 1928, the windmill was in poor condition. The owner, Lady Castle Stewart, had brick supports and steel beams put under the mill's body. These supports helped the mill stay standing until it could be fully repaired.
The big restoration project began in 1968. By 1971, the mill's sails were turning in the wind again! In 1972, it was able to grind grain once more. In 1975, Lady Castle Stewart gave Nutley Windmill to the Uckfield and District Preservation Society. This group helps to look after and preserve historical sites.
Filming and Repairs
Nutley Windmill even appeared in a movie! It was briefly shown in the 1976 concert film The Song Remains the Same, which featured the famous rock band Led Zeppelin. It was the setting for a night-time fantasy scene with the band's bass and keyboard player, John Paul Jones.
In 1984, one of the mill's wooden 'stocks' (part of the sail frame) broke. This happened while a children's TV show called Chocky's Children was being filmed there. A new stock was put in just a week later, with help from the TV company. The mill was also damaged during the Great Storm of 1987, which caused over £6,000 worth of damage.
New steps were added to the back of the mill in 1994 and 1995. This work was paid for by a grant from British Telecom. In 1998, repairs to the main frame and a wheel allowed the 'head stones' to be used again. These stones had not worked since the mill stopped grinding grain many years before. New sails were put on the mill in 2008. Nutley Windmill was even featured on a postage stamp issued by the Royal Mail on June 20, 2017.
How the Windmill Works
Nutley Windmill is an 'open trestle post mill'. This means its main body, which holds all the machinery, can turn on a large central post. It has four sails: two are 'common sails' and two are 'spring sails'. These sails are attached to a strong cast-iron shaft. The mill is turned to face the wind using a long wooden 'tailpole'.
Inside, the mill has two pairs of millstones. These stones grind the grain into flour. They are arranged in a 'head and tail' setup. The wooden wheels that drive the millstones are about 7 feet (2 meters) wide each. The main body of the mill is about 15 feet (4.5 meters) long and 10 feet (3 meters) wide.
People Who Worked at the Mill
The land where Nutley Windmill stands was set up in 1836. It was agreed that no houses could be built on this 7-acre plot. Records show the names of people who lived and worked at the windmill over the years.
- 1836 - 1862: Henry Sitford. He lost the mill because he didn't pay his mortgage.
- 1862 - 1862: William Wells. He sold it to Robert Hollands.
- 1862 - 1867: Robert Hollands. He mortgaged it to William Wells and then lost it.
- 1867 - 1874: William Wells. He then sold it to William Taylor.
- 1874 - 1906: William Taylor. He eventually gained full ownership of the mill.
