Rayleigh Windmill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rayleigh Mill |
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The floodlit mill, July 2006
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| Origin | |
| Mill name | Rayleigh Mill |
| Mill location | TQ 807 910 |
| Coordinates | 51°35′17″N 0°36′25″E / 51.588°N 0.607°E |
| Operator(s) | Rochford District Council |
| Year built | 1809 |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn mill |
| Type | Tower mill |
| Storeys | Six storeys |
| No. of sails | Four sails |
| Type of sails | Two Spring sails and two Common sails |
| Windshaft | Cast iron |
| Winding | Fantail |
| Fantail blades | Six blades |
| Auxiliary power | steam engine, then an oil engine, then an electric motor |
| No. of pairs of millstones | Three pairs |
The Rayleigh Windmill is a special old building in Rayleigh, Essex, England. It's called a Tower mill and is protected as a Grade II listed building. Today, it has been fixed up and works as a museum for everyone to visit.
Contents
What is the History of Rayleigh Windmill?
How the Mill Started and Changed Owners
The Rayleigh Windmill was built in 1809 by Thomas Higgs. He was a timber merchant from Rayleigh. After a few years, in 1815, Higgs faced money problems. The mill was then sold to William Hart in 1817.
Later, in 1845, George Britton bought the mill. His sons, John and Samuel, took over in 1869. They spent about £150 to fix the mill. The Britton brothers left Rayleigh in 1884.
When Did the Mill Stop Using Wind Power?
Thomas James Brown was the next miller. He was the last person to use wind power to make the mill work. This was around 1907.
Around 1909, the top part of the mill, called the cap, and its sails were taken off. After that, the mill used other types of power. First, it used a steam engine, then an oil engine, and later an electric motor. It kept working this way until at least 1937.
How the Windmill Became a Museum
For many years, the mill stood without its cap. It had a special top that looked like a castle wall. In 1970, the Rayleigh and District Antiquarian and Natural History Society took over the mill. They turned it into a museum, which officially opened on May 16, 1970.
In 1972, the local council started a project to fix the mill. They wanted to make it a landmark again. By the autumn of 1974, new parts were made. A new cap and sails were built and put on by special builders called millwrights, John Lawn and Philip Barrett-Lennard.
More recently, in 2005, a big restoration project happened. It cost £340,000 to fix up the mill. This money came from the Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership.
What Does Rayleigh Windmill Look Like?
The Rayleigh Windmill is a tall building with six floors. It is a type of mill called a tower mill. It has a special top, called a Kentish cap. This cap turns to face the wind using a six-bladed fantail.
The mill used to have four sails. Two were called Spring sails, and two were Common sails. These sails were attached to a strong cast-iron shaft.
The bottom part of the mill tower is about 20 feet (6 meters) wide. The walls are very thick, about 4 feet 6 inches (1.37 meters) at the bottom. The mill stands about 60 feet (18 meters) tall to the top of its cap. Inside, the mill had three sets of millstones to grind grain.
Who Worked at the Mill?
Here are some of the people who worked as millers at Rayleigh Windmill:
- Thomas Higgs (1809 - 1817)
- William Hart (1817 - unknown)
- Benjamin Ruffle (1840)
- George Britton (1845–1869)
- John & Samuel Britton (1869–1884)
- Thomas James Brown (1884 - unknown)
- Green Bros (1937)
Can You Visit Rayleigh Windmill?
Yes, you can visit the Rayleigh Windmill! It is open to the public every year starting in April. You can visit on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
