Terling Windmill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Terling Mill |
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| Origin | |
| Mill name | Terling Mill |
| Grid reference | TL 764 150 |
| Coordinates | 51°48′22″N 0°33′32″E / 51.806°N 0.559°E |
| Operator(s) | Private |
| Year built | c1818 |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Originally a bark mill, later a Corn mill |
| Type | Smock mill |
| Storeys | Four-storey smock |
| Base storeys | Single-storey base |
| Smock sides | Eight-sided smock |
| No. of sails | Four sails |
| Type of sails | Double Patent sails |
| Windshaft | Cast iron |
| Winding | Fantail |
| Fantail blades | Eight blades |
| No. of pairs of millstones | Two pairs |
Terling Windmill is an old windmill in Terling, Essex, England. It's a special type of windmill called a Smock mill. Today, it has been changed into a house. It is also a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical structure.
Contents
Discovering Terling Windmill's Past
Terling Windmill was built around 1818. Some people think it might have been built earlier, around 1770, in a different place called Cressing. But this idea has never been fully proven.
When it was first built, the mill was used as a bark mill. This means it ground tree bark, which was used in making leather. In 1818, it was advertised for sale. The ad said it was "new built" and could easily be changed to grind corn. A mill builder named Chappell from Witham might have built it here.
Changes Over the Years
The windmill was painted white for many years. But in 1929, its main body, called the smock, was covered in tar. This made it look darker.
In 1935, a strong storm damaged the mill. It lost its fantail, which is a small windmill at the back that helps the main sails face the wind.
Later, in the 1930s, new sails were added. These sails came from another mill far away in Diss. They were brought by train and then by horse and cart.
The mill kept working by wind until 1949. After that, it used power from outside sources. In 1950, something sad happened. The person working the mill got caught in the machinery and died. This stopped the mill from working forever.
In 1970, the windmill was turned into a home. Many of its old parts were kept inside. Its outside look was also fixed up to look like it used to.
Understanding the Mill's Design
Terling Windmill is a four-storey smock mill. This means it has four levels in its main body. It sits on a single-storey brick base. Unlike some windmills, it didn't have a stage around it.
The mill used to have four double Patent sails. These are special sails that can adjust themselves automatically. The top part, called the cap, was shaped like a dome. The fantail helped the cap turn to face the wind.
When the mill was working, its smock was tarred (dark), and its cap was white. After it became a house, the whole mill was painted white. The cap was covered with shiny aluminum sheets.
The Mill's Base and Tower
The base of Terling Windmill is made of brick and has eight sides, like an octagon. The walls of the base are about 28 inches (71 cm) thick at the bottom. The base is about 21 feet 6 inches (6.55 meters) wide. It stands about 9 feet 6 inches (2.9 meters) high. The brickwork at the top of the base is about 17 inches (43 cm) thick.
The main tower, or smock, looks like it was taken apart and moved at some point. Some of its main support beams, called cant posts, seem newer than the rest of the frame. The tower itself is about 35 feet 4 inches (10.77 meters) tall up to the top edge. The domed cap adds another 10 feet 10 inches (3.3 meters) to the height. This makes the whole windmill about 56 feet (17 meters) tall!
Sails and the Windshaft
Terling Windmill has a strong cast-iron windshaft. This is the main axle that the sails turn. It also has four double Patent sails. The last working sails on this mill came from another mill called Button's Mill in Diss. Before that, they were on a different type of mill in Framlingham, Suffolk.
These old sails were very big. They stretched about 66 feet (20 meters) wide and were 9 feet (2.7 meters) wide themselves. The sails on the mill today are even wider, spanning about 74 feet (22.5 meters).
Inside the Mill: Machinery
Inside the mill, there's a large wooden wheel called the Brake Wheel. It's about 10 feet 8 inches (3.25 meters) across and has 96 teeth. This wheel turns a smaller iron wheel called the Wallower, which has 47 teeth.
The Wallower is connected to a long wooden Upright Shaft, which is about 25 feet (7.6 meters) long. At the bottom of this shaft is another large wheel called the Great Spur Wheel. It has 108 teeth. This wheel used to power three pairs of millstones.
Two pairs of millstones were called French Burr stones. They were turned by smaller gears with 26 teeth. The third pair, called Peak stones, used a gear with 25 teeth. These stones ground the corn into flour.
The Fantail System
Terling Windmill was turned to face the wind by an eight-bladed fantail. This fantail worked by turning an iron screw-like part on the curb, which is the circular track at the top of the smock. This system helped the main sails always catch the most wind.
People Who Ran the Mill
Here are some of the millers who worked at Terling Windmill:
- Wood (around 1818)
- Frederick Rust (1859)
- Charles Joseph Doe (1882 – 1902)
- Martin Bonner (1902 – 1912)
- Herbert Bonner (1914 – 1950)
Terling Mill in Movies
Terling Windmill was even featured in a movie! It appeared in the 1937 film Oh, Mr. Porter!, which starred the famous actor Will Hay.
