Ovenden's Mill, Polegate facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Polegate Windmill |
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The mill in 1997
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| Origin | |
| Mill name | Ovenden's Mill Mockett's Mill |
| Mill location | TQ 582 041 |
| Coordinates | 50°48′54″N 0°14′38″E / 50.815°N 0.244°E |
| Operator(s) | Private |
| Year built | 1817 |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn mill |
| Type | Tower mill |
| Storeys | Four storeys |
| No. of sails | Four sails |
| Type of sails | Patent sails |
| Windshaft | Cast iron |
| Winding | Fantail |
| Fantail blades | Six blades |
| Auxiliary power | Engine |
| No. of pairs of millstones | Two pairs, a third pair driven by engine |
Polegate Windmill, also called Ovenden's Mill or Mockett's Mill, is a historic tower mill located in Polegate, East Sussex, England. It's a very special building, listed as Grade II*. This means it's an important part of history that needs to be protected.
The windmill has been fixed up in the past, but right now, it's not in the best shape. Because of this, the main tower isn't open to visitors. However, there's a really cool milling museum that you can visit on certain "Open Days." To find out when these days are, you can check the "Polegate windmill" Facebook page. The first open day is usually during the National Mills weekend.
History of Polegate Windmill
Ovenden's Mill was built a long time ago, in 1817. It used the power of the wind to grind grain until 1943. After that, it used an engine, and later an electric motor, to do the work until 1965.
By the time the mill stopped working, it was starting to fall apart. It was becoming "derelict," which means it was in very poor condition and needed a lot of repair. The Eastbourne and District Preservation Trust bought the mill and its land to save it.
A company called E Hole and Sons, who were millwrights (people who build and repair mills), worked to restore it. This means they fixed it up and made it look new again.
In July 1974, one of the new wooden parts that held the sails broke. This part was only seven years old. Then, in May 1976, another group of millwrights from Alford fitted a new part and two new sails.
More restoration work happened in 2004. This included adding a special roof, called a cowl, to a building next to the mill. In 2009, two more new sails were put on the windmill.
What Does Polegate Windmill Look Like?
Ovenden's Mill is a tower mill made of brick. It has four floors! At the very top, it has a round, dome-shaped roof called a "cap." This cap can turn to face the wind, thanks to a special part called a fantail. A fantail is like a small windmill at the back that automatically turns the cap.
There's also a platform, or "stage," around the mill at the first floor level. This was probably used for maintenance or to help load and unload things.
The mill has four large sails that are called "Patent sails." These sails are attached to a strong cast iron shaft called a "Windshaft." Inside, there's a big wooden wheel called the "Brake Wheel."
This windmill used to power two pairs of millstones, which grind grain into flour. These were "overdrift" stones, meaning they were driven from above. There was also a third pair of millstones that were "underdrift," driven from below by an engine. The tower itself is about 45 feet (13.7 meters) tall up to the very top edge.
Millers of Polegate Windmill
A miller is a person who operates a mill, especially one that grinds grain into flour. Here are some of the people who worked as millers at Polegate Windmill:
- Joseph Seymour (1817–1857)
- Mathias Mockett (1857–)
- George Thomas
- Ephraim Ovenden (1918–)
- Albert Ovenden (–1965)
