New Mill, Willesborough
New Mill, Willesborough | |
---|---|
Origin | |
Mill location | Willesborough, Ashford |
Grid reference | TR 0313 4213 |
Coordinates | 51°08′32″N0°54′09″E/ 51.14228°N 0.9025°E |
Operator(s) | Kent County Council |
Year built | 1869 |
Information | |
Purpose | Corn mill |
Type | Smock mill |
Storeys | Four-storey smock |
Base storeys | Two-storey base |
Smock sides | Eight-sided |
No.of sails | Four |
Type of sails | Patent sails |
Windshaft | Cast iron |
Winding | Fantail |
Fantail blades | Eight bladed |
Auxiliary power | Oil engine |
No.of pairs of millstones | Four pairs |
New Millis aGrade II*[1]listedsmock millin Hythe Road,Willesborough,Ashford, Kent.It stands just west of junction 10 of theM20 motorway.It was built in 1869 and is now a museum open to the public.
History
[edit]New Millwas built in 1869 by John Hill, theAshfordmillwright,replacing an earlier smock mill. The mill was worked by the Cornes family until theFirst World War,and by the Manwaring family from 1920[2]until 1938 when the mill last worked by wind. The mill was then sold to T Denne and Sons and used for storage. Thefantailwas sold toBarham millin 1946 and installed on that mill. In 1969 the mill was bought by Tom Robbins[3]and remained in his ownership until it was bought, in a very dilapidated state, and fully restored in 1991 to its former glory byAshford Borough Councilfor the benefit of the citizens of Ashford and the public at large.[4]
The mill makes its ownstonegroundwholemealbreadflour, turning one set of stones with the power of a 14horsepower(10kW)Hornsbyengine. The mill, with its neighbouringbarn,islicensedforweddings,Christenings,(civil ceremonies) and many other meetings and functions. The Mill complex is open from April to the end of September on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays from 2pm to 5pm. School and group visits can be arranged for weekdays.
In 2006 the mill was awarded aHeritage Lottery Grantwhich enabled the replacement of the sails. The new sails were fitted on 13 April 2007.[5]Part of the grant was spent on producing anEducationpack for use onschoolvisits. The windmill is now fully operational and able to mill flour using wind or the engine. The mill is licensed to holdwedding ceremonies.[6]
Norman Museum
[edit]Norman Cycleswas abicycle,autocycle,moped,andmotorcyclemanufacturer based in Ashford, and the mill's barn complex houses theNorman Museum,where they have some mopeds and bicycles on display. The Norman Cycles Club is based at the Windmill.[7]
Description
[edit]New Millis a four-storey smock mill on a two-storey brick base with an attachedmiller's cottage. It has fourpatent sailscarried on acast-ironwindshaft. It drives four pairs ofmillstonesby wind, with a fifth pair powered by an auxiliary engine.[2]This was a steam engine until 1911, then an oil engine and latterly an electric motor. The Brake Wheel is of composite construction, with an iron centre and wooden rim. This drives a cast-iron Wallower on the Upright Shaft, which carries a cast-iron Great Spur Wheel, which drives the millstones overdrift.[3]
Millers
[edit]- Cornes & Son 1869 - 1918
- Thomas Sellins 1869 - 1904
- John Cobb 1904 - 1940
- William Manwaring 1920 - 1938
- Cecil Coltham 1931- 1940
- T Denne & Sons 1938 - 1969
- Cecil Coltham 1957 - 1968
References for above:-[2][3][8]
References
[edit]- ^Historic England."Willesborough Windmill, Hythe Road (north east side), Willesborough, Ashford, Kent (1184561)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved21 April2008.
- ^abcColes Finch, William(1933).Watermills and Windmills.London: C W Daniel Company. p. 302.
- ^abcWest, Jenny (1973).The Windmills of Kent.London: Charles Skilton Ltd. pp. 80–83.ISBN0284-98534-1.
- ^"Welcome to Willesborough Windmill".Willesborough Windmill.Retrieved21 April2008.
- ^"Willesborough windmill new sails".Windmill World. Archived fromthe originalon 9 May 2008.Retrieved21 April2008.
- ^"Wedding venues in mills".Windmill World. Archived fromthe originalon 14 May 2008.Retrieved8 July2009.
- ^"Norman Cycles".Real Classic.Retrieved21 April2008.
- ^"Directory of Kent Mill People".The Mills Archive Trust. Archived fromthe originalon 16 April 2009.Retrieved21 April2008.
External links
[edit]- Windmill World pageon the mill.
- Windmills in Kent
- History of Ashford, Kent
- Smock mills in England
- Tourist attractions in Kent
- Grade II* listed buildings in Kent
- Windmills completed in 1869
- Museums in the Borough of Ashford
- Mill museums in England
- Transport museums in England
- Motorcycle museums in the United Kingdom
- Ashford, Kent
- Octagonal buildings in the United Kingdom
- 1869 establishments in England