Ovenden's Mill, Polegate

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The mill in 1997
The mill in 1997

Ovenden's Mill or Mockett's Mill (TQ 582 041 50°48′54″N 0°14′38″E / 50.815, 0.244) is a grade II* listed[1] tower mill at Polegate, Sussex, England which has been restored and is open to the public.

Contents

[edit] History

Ovenden's Mill was built in 1817 and was working by wind until 1943.[2] The mill was worked by auxiliary engine, latterly an electric motor, until 1965. By the time the mill stopped working, it was becoming derelict. Eastbourne and District Preservation Trust bough the mill and grounds, and a restoration carried out by E Hole and Sons, the Burgess Hill millwrights. One of the new stocks broke in July 1974, bringing the sail with it. This particular stock was only seven years old. Thompson's, the Alford millwrights fitted a replacement stock and two new sails in May 1976.[3] Further restoration work was undertaken in 2004,[4] including the fitting of a cowl to the adjoinging malthouse.[5]

[edit] Description

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

Ovenden's Mill is a four storey brick tower mill with a domed cap winded by a fantail. There is a stage at first floor level. It had four Patent sails carried on a cast iron Windshaft. The Brake Wheel is wooden. The mill drove two pairs of overdrift millstones, with a third pair driven underdrift by auxiliary engine.[3] The tower is 45 feet (13.72 m) high to the curb.[2]

[edit] Millers

  • Joseph Seymour 1817 - 1857
  • Mathias Mockett 1857 -
  • George Thomas
  • Ephraim Ovenden 1918 -
  • Albert Ovenden - 1965

References for above:-[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ MOCKETT'S MILL, PARK CROFT, POLEGATE, WEALDEN, EAST SUSSEX. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
  2. ^ a b Polegate Windmill. All About Sussex. Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
  3. ^ a b c Brunnarius, Martin (1979). The Windmills of Sussex. Chichester: Philimore, p85-87, 191. ISBN 0 85033 345 8. 
  4. ^ Polegate Windmill, East Sussex - 17th October 2004. Roughwood. Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
  5. ^ COWL SET IN PLACE AT OLD MALTHOUSE. Eastbourne Herald. Retrieved on 2008-05-13.

[edit] External links

[edit] Further reading

Hemming, Peter (1936). Windmills in Sussex. London: C W Daniel.  Online version

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