Stock Windmill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stock Mill |
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The restored mill, June 2004
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| Origin | |
| Mill name | Stock Mill |
| Grid reference | TQ 698 987 |
| Coordinates | 51°39′43″N 0°27′22″E / 51.662°N 0.456°E |
| Operator(s) | Essex County Council |
| Year built | c1816 |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn mill |
| Type | Tower |
| Storeys | Five storeys |
| No. of sails | Four sails |
| Type of sails | Patent sails |
| Windshaft | Cast iron |
| Winding | Fantail |
| Fantail blades | Six blades |
| Auxiliary power | Internal combustion engine |
| No. of pairs of millstones | Three pairs |
| Size of millstones | 5 feet (1.52 m), 4 feet 7 inches (1.40 m) and 4 feet (1.22 m) |
The Stock Windmill is a very old and important building located in Stock, Essex. It is a special type of windmill called a tower mill. This mill has been carefully repaired and brought back to life. It is also a Grade II* listed building, which means it is a historically important structure protected by law.
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What is Stock Windmill?
Stock Windmill is a tall building that uses wind power to grind grain. It has five floors and four large sails that catch the wind. These sails are called Patent sails, which were a clever invention allowing millers to adjust them easily. A special part called a fantail helps the mill turn automatically to face the wind.
A Look Back: The History of Stock Mill
When Was Stock Windmill Built?
Stock Windmill was built around 1816. At that time, there was already another windmill nearby, a post mill. Later, in 1845, a second post mill was moved to a spot close to Stock Windmill.
How Did the Mill Change Over Time?
By 1862, Stock Windmill had four sails with shutters. The two other post mills were taken down around 1890. Around the same time, the large grinding stones, called millstones, were moved to a lower floor. The way they were driven also changed.
In 1902, a steam engine was added to help the mill work. Stock Windmill continued to grind grain using wind power until 1930. After that, it used an engine until about 1936.
Who Saved Stock Windmill?
The Essex County Council bought the mill in 1945 to protect it. However, by 1977, parts of the mill were missing. It no longer had its fantail, and only one pair of sails remained.
Major repairs began in 1991, led by Vincent Pargeter. A group called English Heritage helped pay for some of the work. When the restoration was finished in 1993, a new group called the Friends of Stock Mill was formed. They help look after the mill today.
How Stock Windmill Works
The Mill's Structure
Stock Windmill is a five-storey tower mill. This means it has five levels inside. It has a cap shaped like a boat on top. This cap turns to face the wind, helped by a six-bladed fantail.
The base of the tower is about 20 feet 6 inches wide inside. At the top, where the cap sits, it's about 12 feet 6 inches wide. The walls are very thick, about 22 inches at the bottom and 18 inches higher up. The whole tower is about 40 feet tall. With the cap, the mill stands about 52 feet high.
Inside the Mill: The Machinery
When it was first built, the mill had a platform on the first floor. It used four simple sails and had to be turned by hand to face the wind. It originally powered two pairs of millstones from above.
The main shaft that carries the sails, called the cast-iron windshaft, might not have been made for this mill originally. It holds a large brake wheel, which is about 9 feet 4 inches across. This wheel has 81 teeth.
The brake wheel turns a smaller wheel called a wallower, which has 25 teeth. This then turns a strong upright shaft made of cast iron, which is about 5 inches wide. This shaft is in three parts and connects the different floors.
At the bottom, a large cast-iron wheel called the great spur wheel, about 5 feet wide with 76 teeth, drives the millstones. It used to power three pairs of millstones. These stones were different sizes: 5 feet, 4 feet 7 inches, and 4 feet across.
Who Worked at Stock Mill?
Many people worked as millers at Stock Windmill over the years. Here are some of them:
- William Moss Sr (from 1816)
- William (Jr) & John Moss (until 1838)
- William Moss Jr (until 1853)
- John Pertwee (1863–1866)
- Joseph Clover (1870–1890)
- Mary Clover (1894–1898)
- William Mayes (1902–1917)
- Frank Semmens (1926–1929)
Visiting Stock Windmill
You can visit Stock Windmill! It is open to the public on the second Sunday of each month. This is usually from April through September. It's a great chance to see this historic building up close.
Images for kids
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The restored mill, June 2004
