Wheatley Windmill, Wheatley, Oxfordshire facts for kids
Wheatley Windmill is an old windmill built in the 1700s. It stands between the small villages of Littleworth and Wheatley in Oxfordshire, England. This special windmill has a unique eight-sided (octagonal) shape at its base. This shape then becomes round at the top, where the cap turns to catch the wind.
A Look Back: The History of Wheatley Windmill
The first time anyone wrote about Wheatley Windmill was in 1671. Even back then, it was described as being "in a ruinous condition," meaning it was already falling apart.
In 1760, the windmill suffered a lot of damage. There was a big fire, and strong winds also caused problems. Later, in 1784, new parts were put into the mill. These new machines came from a company called Eagle Ironworks in Oxford.
After the year 1914, the windmill stopped being used. It became old and broken down over time. But good news! Since 1977, a group called the Wheatley Windmill Restoration Society has been working hard to fix it. Thanks to their efforts, the windmill is now restored. You can even visit it today!
Exploring the Windmill Building
The main building of Wheatley Windmill is quite special. It was built in the 1700s and has an unusual eight-sided (octagonal) shape. There are only two or three other windmills like it in the whole of the UK!
The tower of the windmill has three levels, or storeys. On the ground floor, you'll find two fireplaces. Some old mills only had one fireplace, and some had none at all. A proper staircase leads up to the first floor. This floor is called the 'stone floor' because it's where the big mill stones are located. These stones were used to grind grain.
The top part of the windmill, called the cap, used to be covered in copper. It was shaped like a curved dome. People described it as looking "picturesque," which means pretty, but maybe not perfectly elegant.
Originally, the windmill had four large sails. These sails turned in a clockwise direction, which is different from most windmills that turn counter-clockwise. For a while, the windmill even worked with only two sails. These sails were the 'common' type. They had a wooden frame and were covered with canvas. The miller could adjust the canvas depending on how windy it was and how much work needed to be done. The canvas used was similar to the strong fabric found on old boats called Thames barges.
