Oldland Mill, Keymer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oldland Windmill, Keymer |
|
|---|---|
The mill during an Open Day 2016
|
|
| Origin | |
| Grid reference | TQ 32118 16210 |
| Coordinates | 50°55′49″N 0°07′17″W / 50.93022°N 0.12134°W |
| Year built | c1700 |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn mill |
| Type | Post mill |
| Roundhouse storeys | Single storey roundhouse |
| No. of sails | Four |
| Type of sails | Spring sweeps |
| Windshaft | Cast iron |
| Winding | Tailpole |
| Auxiliary power | Steam |
| No. of pairs of millstones | Two pairs, arranged Head and Tail |
Oldland Windmill is a historic post mill located near Keymer, a village in West Sussex, England. It was built around the year 1700. This amazing old building is officially recognized as a Grade II Listed Building, which means it's important and protected.
Contents
History of Oldland Windmill
Oldland Windmill was likely built around 1700. The first records of a windmill in this area are from 1703. Originally, it was an "open trestle" mill. This means its main support structure was open to the air. The roundhouse, which is the base you see today, was added later.
The mill appeared on maps in 1755 and 1783. However, it was missing from some maps in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Despite this, other records confirm the mill was still standing and working. Oldland Mill continued to grind corn using wind power until 1912. After that, it slowly started to fall apart.
Saving the Mill
In 1927, the Sussex Archaeological Society took over the mill. They arranged for some repairs in 1934. By the 1970s, the mill was in very bad shape. In 1976, people started talking about how to save it. Experts surveyed the mill in 1977 and found it was almost ready to collapse.
In 1980, the Hassocks Amenity Association leased the mill. They started a huge project to restore it. This work was mostly done by dedicated volunteers.
Modern Restoration and Operation
The restoration project received a grant from DEFRA. Volunteers worked tirelessly, taking the mill apart and replacing rotten pieces. They built many new parts exactly like the old ones. The entire mill was re-covered with new wood.
By October 2007, all four large sails, called sweeps, were put back into place. In October 2008, the mill ground its first batch of corn in decades! Today, Oldland Windmill regularly grinds flour. It is one of the few windmills in Sussex that sells its own flour. It's also the oldest working windmill in Sussex. The mill is now owned and cared for by the Oldland Mill Trust, a charity run by volunteers.
In 2015, the mill's original steam power system was brought back to life. This meant the mill could be driven by steam for the first time in over 100 years!
Restoration Details
The first group of volunteers started working on August 2, 1980. They cleaned up around the mill and fixed the roundhouse roof. In 1981, the last two sails were removed with help from sailors. In 1983, a special "A" frame was built to support the main shaft.
Over the next ten years, much of the mill's wooden frame was replaced. This included the main support structure, called the trestle. A new large wheel, about 8 feet 8 inches (2.64 meters) wide, was built in 2006. This wheel helps turn the millstones. It was made from elm wood with hornbeam teeth and oak arms.
What Oldland Mill Looks Like
Oldland Mill is a type of windmill called a post mill. This means the entire top part of the mill can turn to face the wind. It sits on a single-story, eight-sided roundhouse. The roundhouse is made of tarred brick with wooden weatherboarding on top.
The mill has four large sails, known as spring sweeps. It is turned to face the wind using a long wooden pole called a tailpole. The main shaft, which connects the sails to the grinding stones, is made of cast iron. It was made by a mill builder from Lewes in 1873. Inside, the mill has two pairs of millstones. These stones are used to grind corn into flour.
Millers of Oldland Windmill
Many people worked as millers at Oldland Windmill over the years. Here are some of them:
- George Bennett (around 1819 - 1828)
- Joseph Roots Beard (1828 - 1840)
- Joseph Winchester (around 1839 - 1860)
- Thomas Ashdown (1860 - 1869)
- Jesse Washington White (1869 - 1891)
- John Turner (around 1878 - 1895)
- John White (around 1894 - 1904)
- David Driver (around 1891 - 1912)
This list comes from research done by the volunteers of Oldland Mill. You can find more information on the Oldland Mill website.
Gallery
-
The mill in November 2007.
-
Oldland Mill in the context of its surrounding countryside.
-
The original granary for the mill, Feb 09.
-
Rear view of the mill in February 2009.
-
Oldland Mill in 2008.
