Stansted Mountfitchet Windmill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stansted Mill |
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The restored mill, October 2007
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| Origin | |
| Mill name | Stansted Mill |
| Mill location | TL 509 248 |
| Coordinates | 51°54′04″N 0°11′38″E / 51.901°N 0.194°E |
| Operator(s) | Private |
| Year built | 1787 |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn mill |
| Type | Tower mill |
| Storeys | Five storeys |
| No. of sails | Four sails |
| Type of sails | Patent sails |
| Windshaft | cast iron |
| Winding | Fantail |
| Fantail blades | Eight blades |
| No. of pairs of millstones | Three pairs |
Stansted Mountfitchet Windmill is a very old and important building in Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex, England. It is a Tower mill, which means it's a type of windmill with a tall, round tower. This windmill is so special that it's protected as a Grade II* listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This means it's a historic site that needs to be preserved. Today, the windmill has been fixed up and can even turn its sails in the wind!
Contents
History of Stansted Mill
Early Years and Changes
Stansted Mountfitchet Windmill was built in 1787 for a person named Joseph Lindsell. He sold the mill in 1807 to Henry Chaplin. Later, in 1808, Chaplin used the mill as a guarantee for a loan from Robert Sworder.
After Chaplin passed away in 1844, the mill was put up for sale. However, no one bought it at the auction in 1846.
In 1847, some of the windmill's sails needed to be replaced. The old "Common sails" were swapped for "Spring sails" by a mill builder named Thomas Seabrook. In 1848, more sails broke, so new "Patent sails" were added.
The miller at the time, Mr. Hicks, found it hard to make enough money. He said that the mill often couldn't grind grain because there wasn't enough wind. He even managed to get his rent lowered.
New Millers and Modern Upgrades
Mr. Hicks left the mill in 1853, and William Randall Dixon took over. He rented the mill for seven years. A small building for baking was added in 1854. Around this time, a part of the mill's structure, an oak stock, cracked. This meant the mill could only work with two sails for a while.
Dixon left in 1856, and Edward Hicks became the miller again. In 1860, Hicks wanted to make the mill more modern. He asked the owner to add a steam engine to help when there wasn't enough wind. This idea was turned down.
However, a new metal shaft for the sails, called a windshaft, was installed. A "fantail" was also added. A fantail is a small windmill at the back of the cap that automatically turns the main sails into the wind. These improvements cost money, but they made the mill work better.
In 1862, another mill builder, Fyson, changed how the mill's machinery worked. This made the mill more efficient. The stage (a platform around the mill) and the roundhouse (a lean-to building at the base) were removed then.
Later Years and Restoration
By 1870, the windmill had four large "double Patent sails." These sails were over 7 feet (about 2 meters) wide. The mill continued to work until 1910, mainly crushing oats.
In 1930, the tower of the windmill had to be made stronger with three iron bands. In 1934, Lord Blyth paid for the mill to be repaired and gave it to the local community.
From the 1940s to 1963, the windmill was used as a Scout hut. In 1952, it was officially protected as an Ancient Monument. The mill first opened to the public in 1964, and more restoration work happened in 1966.
Major repairs were done in 1984-1985, costing £14,000. This work allowed both the cap (the top part) and the sails to turn again. In 2003, lightning struck the mill during an open day! By 2005, more repairs were needed, costing about £70,000.
How the Windmill Works
Stansted Mountfitchet Windmill is a five-storey tower mill. It has a rounded top, called a domed cap. An eight-bladed fantail on the cap helps turn the mill to face the wind.
The tower is wide at the bottom, about 21 feet (6.5 meters) across. It gets narrower towards the top, where it's about 10 feet (3 meters) wide. The brick walls are quite thin, which is why the tower needed strengthening with iron bands. The tower stands about 47 feet (14 meters) tall from the ground to the cap. With the cap, the total height is about 57 feet (17 meters).
Inside, a metal windshaft holds the four sails. This shaft connects to a large wooden brake wheel. This wheel has 99 iron teeth and is about 8 feet (2.4 meters) wide. The brake wheel turns another wooden wheel called a wallower.
The wallower is on a tall, upright wooden shaft. This shaft then turns a very large wheel called the great spur wheel, which is also about 8 feet (2.4 meters) wide. This big wheel powers three pairs of millstones. These millstones grind the grain into flour.
When the mill was first built, it had a wooden windshaft and four "Common sails." The cap had to be turned by hand to face the wind. The millstones were also on a different floor back then. There was also a small building attached to the base called a roundhouse.
Millers of Stansted Mill
- Joseph Lindsell 1787
- Charles Smith 1830s
- Charles & Edward Hicks 1846–1853
- William Randall Dixon 1853–1856
- Edward Hicks 1856–1861
- Ervin 1861–1863
- John Buck 1863–1865
- Edward Hicks 1865–1867
- William White 1867 –
- Edward Hicks & Sons 1890
Visiting the Windmill
Stansted Mountfitchet Windmill is looked after by a group of volunteers called 'The Stansted Millers'. They help people visit the mill.
You can visit the windmill from Easter until October. It's open on the first Sunday of each month, on Bank Holidays, and on other special days. The opening hours are from 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM.
The entrance fee is £2 for adults. For children aged 5 to 16, it costs 50p. Children under 5 years old can enter for free.
