Pratt's Mill, Crowborough

Crowborough Windmill
The mill c1905
Origin
Mill name	Pratt's Mill
Grid reference	TQ 518 311
Coordinates
Operator(s)	Private
Year built	1862
Information
Purpose	Corn mill
Type	Tower
Storeys	Five storeys
Number of sails	Four sails
Type of sails	Patent sails
Winding	Fantail
Number of pairs of millstones	Three pairs
Year lost	Truncated 1927

Pratt's Mill is a tower mill at Crowborough, Sussex, England which has been truncated and converted to residential accommodation.

History

Pratt's Mill was built between September 1861 and February 1862. The machinery from Calverley Mill, Tunbridge Wells was used in the construction of the mill. On 3 February 1862 the son of the miller was killed when he became entangled in the machinery. The mill was working by wind until 1907 and then by steam until 1922. Frank Brangwyn, RA painted the mill when it was without sails and fantail. The picture appears in an early book on windmills. In 1927 the mill was converted into residential accommodation, being reduced in height to three storeys.

Description

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

As built, Pratt's Mill was a five-storey brick tower mill clad in peg tiles. It had four Patent sails and the Kentish-style cap was winded by a fantail. All that remains today is the lower three storeys of the tower, with various additions and extensions. Hemming states that the mill may have driven three pairs of millstones.

Millers

• Richard Pratt 1861
• Samuel Pratt 1881 - 1891

References for above:-

See also

• Windmills in Sussex – Wikipedia book

External links

• Photograph of mill 1890
• Postcard of mill 1905
• Another postcard c.1905
• Mill and pond 1912
• Painting by Frank Brangwyn 1923

Further reading

Online version