Oldland Mill, Keymer

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Oldland Mill, Keymer
File:Oldland Mill 1108.jpg
Oldland Mill, December 2008
Origin
Grid reference TQ 321 162
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Year built c1700
Information
Purpose Corn mill
Type Post mill
Roundhouse storeys Single storey roundhouse
Number of sails Four
Type of sails Spring sails
Windshaft Cast iron
Winding Tailpole
Number of pairs of millstones Two pairs, arranged Head and Tail

Oldland Mill is an 18th-century post mill situated in the village of Keymer, West Sussex.

History

Oldland Mill was built c.1700 (the earliest record of a windmill in the area dates from 1703). It was originally an open trestle mill, with the roundhouse being added later.[1] Records show that a mill stood in Keymer in 1755, and the mill was marked on a map dated 1783, but it is not shown on one dated 1795. The 1801 National Defence Schedule records the mill but the 1813 Ordnance Survey and Greenwood's 1829 map omit the mill. Records show that the mill was standing in 1828. Oldland Mill was working by wind until 1912. The mill began to fall into disrepair in the early part of the 20th century and continued to deteriorate.

The Sussex Archaeological Society acquired the mill in 1927 and repairs were carried out by E Hole and Sons of Burgess Hill in 1934.[2] In 1976, at the Annual General Meeting of the Hassocks Amenity Association, there was a talk was given on the work of Weald and Downland Open Air Museum. The question of how to preserve Oldland Mill was raised. The mill was then in the ownership of the Sussex Archaeological Society. The mill was surveyed in 1977 by millwrights Vincent Pargeter and Edwin Hole and found to be close to collapse. Following negotiations with the Sussex Archaeological Society in 1979 the Hassocks Amenity Association leased the mill in 1980 and began a period of volunteer-led restoration.[1]

Since then the mill has benefited from a DEFRA grant and substantial work has been completed, almost entirely carried out by volunteers.[3] The mill was stripped to her bare essentials and many new parts completely and accurately built from scratch to replace rotten parts. The whole mill has been reclad and as of 18 October 2007 the four sails had been lifted into position. The mill ground its first batch of corn for many decades in October 2008. Today the mill is looked after by The Oldland Mill Trust, a registered charity.

As of mid-2010 the mill restoration was largely completed, with the original auxiliary drive system restored and commissioned in 2015 when steam power was used to drive the mill for the first time in over 100 years.

Restoration

The first working party on 2 August 1980 cleared rubbish around the mill and made a temporary repair to the roof of the roundhouse. In 1981, the two remaining sails and stock were removed with the assistance of sailors from HMS Daedalus. In 1983, an "A" frame was constructed to support the windshaft. The mill was restored over the next ten years, with much of the framing being replaced, including the trestle, crown tree, breast, tail and side frames.[1] A new Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). diameter clasp arm head wheel and brake was constructed in 2006. The head wheel is of elm with hornbeam cogs and oak arms.[4]

Description

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

For an explanation of the various pieces of machinery, see Mill machinery.

Oldland Mill is a post mill on a single-storey octagonal roundhouse. It has four spring sails and is winded by a tailpole. The windshaft is cast iron and was cast by Boaz Medhurst, the Lewes millwright, in 1873. There are two pairs of millstones, arranged head and tail.[2]

Millers

  • Josh Beard 1828
  • Joseph Winchester 1839 - 1854
  • William Winchester 1839 - 1854
  • J Turner - 1899
  • John White 1899 - 1904
  • David Driver 1904 - 1912

Reference for above:-[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Further reading

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Online version

External links

Gallery

  • The mill in November 2007.

  • Oldland Mill from the S Downs 1108.jpg

    Oldland Mill in the context of its surrounding countryside.

  • Oldland Mill Granary.jpg

    The original granary for the mill, Feb 09.

  • Rear view of Oldland Mill.jpg

    Rear view of the mill in February 2009.

Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Oldland_Mill,_Keymer&oldid=712815327"