Ripple Mill, Ringwould facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ripple Windmill |
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The mill under restoration
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| Origin | |
| Grid reference | TR 362 491 |
| Coordinates | 51°11′30.5″N 1°22′43″E / 51.191806°N 1.37861°E |
| Year built | Early nineteenth century |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn mill |
| Type | Smock mill |
| Storeys | Three-storey smock |
| Base storeys | Single-storey base |
| Smock sides | Eight-sided |
| No. of sails | Four |
| Type of sails | Single Patent sails |
| Windshaft | cast iron |
| Winding | Fantail |
| Fantail blades | Six blades |
| Other information | Restored mill has the windshaft from Shiremark Mill, Capel fitted. |
Ripple Windmill is a special old building in Ringwould, Kent, England. It's a type of windmill called a smock mill. It was first built in a place called Drellingore in the early 1800s. Later, it was moved to Ringwould.
For a while, the mill stopped working. Its machinery was taken out, and it was even used as a television mast! But now, people are working to fix it up. They want to make it a working windmill again.
What is Ripple Windmill Like?
Ripple Mill is a smock mill. This means it has a wooden tower that looks a bit like a farmer's smock (a loose coat). It has three floors above a single brick base.
The mill has four large arms called sails. These sails are a special type called "patent sails." A "fantail" helps the mill turn to face the wind. Inside, the mill used to have three pairs of millstones. These big stones would grind corn into flour.
The Story of Ripple Windmill
People have known about windmills in this area for a very long time. Maps from 1695 and 1770 show a windmill here. Ripple Mill itself was built in the early 1800s in Drellingore.
When the mill was moved, it was taken apart carefully. The main wooden posts were cut in half lengthwise. Then, they were put back together at the new spot. You can still see one of these special posts inside the mill today!
Sadly, around 1834, a young girl was hurt by one of the mill's moving sails. The sails could come very close to the ground.
In 1895, a group called Trinity House helped pay for repairs. They used the mill as a landmark to help ships navigate. In 1927, the mill lost two of its sails. It kept working with the other two, and sometimes an oil engine helped out.
The mill was still working during World War II. But after the war, in 1947, there wasn't enough local support to fix it up completely.
In 1955, a company called Rediffusion bought the mill. They took out all the machinery. The wooden tower was then covered with antennas and used as a television relay station. This meant it helped send TV signals around!
Rediffusion sold the mill in 1976. In 1994, a new top (called a "cap") was put on the mill. It even got a special part called a "windshaft" from another old mill. People are still working hard to bring Ripple Windmill back to life!
