Wimbledon Windmill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wimbledon Windmill |
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Wimbledon Windmill, February 2005.
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| Origin | |
| Mill name | Wimbledon Windmill |
| Mill location | Wimbledon Common, London |
| Grid reference | TQ 230 725 |
| Coordinates | 51°26′15″N 0°13′55″W / 51.437622°N 0.232000°W |
| Operator(s) | Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators |
| Year built | 1817 |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn mill |
| Type | Smock mill |
| Base storeys | Two storey base |
| Smock sides | Eight sides |
| No. of sails | Four |
| Type of sails | Patent sails |
| Windshaft | Cast iron |
| Winding | Fantail |
| Fantail blades | Six blades |
| Other information | Website: wimbledonwindmill.org.uk |
Wimbledon Windmill is a really old and special building. It stands on Wimbledon Common in London. This windmill is so important that it's a Grade II* listed site. This means it's protected because of its history and beauty. It used to grind corn, but now it's a fun museum for everyone to visit.
Contents
History of the Windmill
How the Windmill Started
In 1799, someone wanted to build a windmill here. But they didn't show their building plans, so the idea was stopped. Later, in 1816, a carpenter named Charles March asked for permission. He got it the next year, and the windmill was built in 1817.
Changes Over Time
The windmill worked until 1864. At that time, the owner of the land, Earl Spencer, wanted to use the common for himself. He made the miller leave. The miller then removed most of the mill's working parts. He didn't want the windmill to compete with his other mills. The main building was then changed into a place for people to live.
Local people didn't like the idea of the common being taken over. They worked together to pass a law in 1871. This law gave the care of the common to a group of elected and appointed people.
Repairs and New Life
In 1892, the people looking after the common decided to fix the windmill. A company called Sanderson & Sons was chosen for the job. They found that some main parts were rotten. So, they suggested changing the windmill into a different type, called a smock mill. This work was finished in 1893. The original sails were replaced with shorter ones. Later, in the 1920s, one sail was lost, and new sails were put on.
During World War II
During World War II, the windmill was painted a dull green color. This was to help hide it from enemy planes. One of its sails was also removed. This was because there were army camps very close by. After the war, the windmill was repainted. But the sails stopped turning in 1946 because the gears were too worn out.
Becoming a Museum
In 1952, the windmill was checked, and a list of repairs was made. People helped raise money in 1954. The windmill was fixed, and its sails turned again on May 25, 1957. It was repaired again in 1975 and turned into a museum.
In 1999, money from the Heritage Lottery Fund helped fix the special "Patent sails" so they could work again. The museum first opened on one floor. In 1999, it grew to two floors. It tells the story of windmills from long ago until today. You can see models, old tools, and even a room showing how people used to live there. The windmill doesn't grind grain anymore, but a detailed model shows how it worked.
Recent Repairs
On August 2, 2015, one of the sails fell off. This damaged the base below. It happened because water had been getting into the wood for a long time. The sails were fixed again in 2016.
What the Windmill Looks Like
Wimbledon Windmill was first built as a "hollow post" mill. This means the machinery that ground the grain went through the middle of a large central post. It worked this way for its whole life. But when it was saved in 1893, it was rebuilt as a "smock mill."
A smock mill has a tall, many-sided tower that looks a bit like a farmer's smock (a loose shirt). Wimbledon Windmill has an eight-sided brick base with two stories. Above this is a cone-shaped tower. The windmill has four special "Patent sails." These sails are turned by the wind. A "fantail" helps turn the whole top of the mill so the sails always face the wind. Inside, there were gears and shafts that would have turned the millstones to grind corn.
Millers
These are some of the people who worked as millers at Wimbledon Windmill:
- Dann – around 1840
- A Halloway – around 1858
- John Marsh – in the 1860s
Culture and Media
Wimbledon Windmill has been part of some interesting stories!
- The Mill House is where Robert Baden-Powell stayed in 1902. He wrote parts of Scouting for Boys here, which started the Scouting movement.
- The windmill appeared in a Doctor Who episode called The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve (Bell of Doom). This was filmed in 1966.
- It also shows up briefly in the 1952 film "Hammer the Toff."
- You can also see it in the 1970 Peter Sellers film Hoffman.
Visiting the Windmill
The windmill is now a museum. It teaches you about its own history and the history of windmills in general. The museum is open on weekends and Bank Holidays from March to October.
Inside, you can find fun things to do. There are models you can push buttons to make move. You can also try grinding grain yourself! You can explore the different parts of the actual mill. The windmill and a nearby café are on Wimbledon Common. This area has open spaces and woodlands to explore too.
