Stocks Mill, Wittersham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stocks Mill, Wittersham |
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The mill in May 2016
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| Origin | |
| Grid reference | TQ 912 272 |
| Coordinates | 51°0′48″N 0°43′33″E / 51.01333°N 0.72583°E |
| Operator(s) | Kent County Council |
| Year built | 1781 |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn milling |
| Type | Post mill |
| Roundhouse storeys | Single storey |
| No. of sails | Four |
| Type of sails | Spring sails |
| Windshaft | Wood with a cast iron poll end |
| Winding | Tailpole |
| No. of pairs of millstones | Two pairs, arranged Head and Tail |
Stocks Mill is a very old and special windmill located in Wittersham, a village in Kent, England. It is a type of windmill called a Post mill. This means the whole top part of the mill can turn to face the wind. It is also a "Grade II* listed" building, which means it's a very important historical site that needs to be protected.
Contents
History of Stocks Mill
Building the Mill
Stocks Mill was probably built around the year 1781. It got its name because the village stocks (a device used for punishment in the past) used to stand very close by. Some people think the mill might be even older and was moved here from another village called Stone in Oxney. The year 1781 might just be when it was put back together in its current spot.
Early Uses and Preservation
For a long time, the building next to the mill, called the Mill House, was used as the local Poorhouse. This was a place where poor people could live. The mill stopped working around 1900. After that, a man named Norman Forbes-Robertson, who owned the mill and the Mill House, helped to save it from falling apart.
New Owners and Repairs
Over the years, the mill was owned by different people, including an artist named Randolph H Sauter and a Royal Navy officer, Sir Edward Parry. In 1958, the mill was repaired. Then, in 1968, a millwright (someone who builds and repairs mills) named Derek Ogden fitted new parts, including a new stock and a pair of sails.
Opening to the Public
In 1980, Kent County Council took over the mill. A group called the "Friends of Stocks Mill" was created. Their goal was to open the mill so that people could visit it and learn about its history.
Major Restoration Work
A big project to restore the mill started in 2002. Part of the money for this came from the National Lottery. During this restoration, two new sails were added, and other parts of the mill were fixed. Some of the old machinery that had been taken out over the years was even rebuilt. The mill was finally reopened to the public in 2004, looking much like it did when it was working.
How Stocks Mill Works
Stocks Mill is a Post mill, which means the main body of the mill, where the machinery is, sits on a large central post. This whole body can turn around on a base called a roundhouse. This allows the mill to always face the wind, no matter which way it's blowing.
Sails and Power
The mill has four special sails called "Spring sails." These sails are attached to a wooden shaft called a windshaft. This shaft has a metal end made of cast iron. Inside the mill, this windshaft turns two large wooden wheels. One is called the Head Wheel, and it's about 2.67 meters (8 feet 9 inches) across. The other is the Tail Wheel, which is about 2.36 meters (7 feet 9 inches) across.
Grinding Grain
These wheels power two pairs of millstones. Millstones are large, heavy stones that grind grain into flour. The way the mill is designed, it can grind grain using both pairs of stones at the same time.
