Reed Mill, Kingston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Reed Mill, Kingston |
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Reed Mill, January 2012
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| Origin | |
| Grid reference | TR 174 499 |
| Coordinates | 51°12′25″N 1°06′38″E / 51.20692°N 1.11045°E |
| Year built | Early nineteenth century |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn mill |
| Type | Tower mill |
| Storeys | Four storeys |
| No. of sails | Four |
| Type of sails | Patent sails |
| Winding | Fantail |
| No. of pairs of millstones | Three pairs |
Reed Mill is a type of windmill called a tower mill. It is located in Kingston, Kent, England. This mill was built a long time ago, in the early 1800s. It worked hard grinding corn until 1915.
After that, the mill was left empty and broken for many years. But in 2010 and 2011, it was given a new life! The old mill was changed and made bigger to become a home.
What is Reed Mill?
Reed Mill is a tall building with four floors. It used to have a special roof, called a Kentish-style cap. This cap held four large sails. These were patent sails, which means they could adjust themselves automatically to the wind.
The mill also had a fantail. This was a small set of blades at the back of the cap. Its job was to keep the main sails facing the wind. Inside, the mill used to power three pairs of millstones. These big stones would grind corn into flour.
The Story of Reed Mill
Reed Mill was built sometime in the early 1800s. It was important enough to be shown on maps from the 1850s. The mill worked for many years, helping local farmers.
However, on March 28, 1915, something went wrong. The wind blew too strongly from behind the mill. This is called being "tailwind-ed." The cap and sails were blown right off! The fantail, which should have turned the mill to face the wind, wasn't working. It was waiting for a new part.
Repairing the mill would have cost a lot of money, more than £300 back then. So, the mill was left empty and unused. All the machinery inside was taken out.
Many years later, in 2010 and 2011, the mill got a fresh start. A company called RJ Gibbs and Sons LTD turned the old mill into a house. They also added a new barn and a glass room next to it. This amazing change was even shown on a TV show called The Restoration Man on Channel 4.
Who Worked at the Mill?
Here are some of the people who worked as millers at Reed Mill:
- Daniel Gouger: He worked at the mill from about 1825 until around 1865.
- F J Fagg: He was the miller until the mill stopped working in 1915.
