Sarre Windmill

Sarre Windmill
Origin
Grid reference TR 259 651
Operator(s) Hobbs (?-2011) Unknown (2011-)
Year built 1821
Information
Purpose Corn mill
Type Smock mill
Storeys Three-storey smock
Base storeys Two-storey base
Smock sides Eight-sided
Number of sails Four
Type of sails Double Patent sails
Windshaft Cast iron
Winding Fantail
Fantail blades Six bladed
Auxiliary power Steam engine 1861 - 1920
Gas engine 1920 - 1940
Number of pairs of millstones Two pairs
Other information The first windmill in Kent to have a steam engine as auxiliary power.

Sarre Windmill is a Grade II listed[1] smock mill in Sarre, Kent, England that was built in 1820, and is now a commercially working windmill that has been restored and is open to the public.

History

Sarre windmill was built in 1820 by the Canterbury millwright John Holman. It was said to have been moved from Monkton, but it is more likely to have had some machinery from that mill included in its construction. It was marked on the 1819-43 Ordnance Survey map. Sarre mill was originally built with a single-storey brick base, but in 1856 the base was raised to 14 feet (4.27 m) high, with an extra storey built under it. Sarre mill was the first windmill in Kent to have a steam engine installed as auxiliary power.[2] This was added in 1861.[3] The mill was worked by wind until 1920, when the sails were taken down, and installed on the Union Mill, Cranbrook[2] and a gas engine was fitted.[3] The mill worked for a few years longer powered by the gas engine, but had ceased milling by the early 1930s.[2] The mill was recommissioned in the late 1930s, again powered by the gas engine, before finally stopping in 1940[3] as the engine had been damaged by frost in the severe winter that year.[4] The mill was used as an observation post during the Second World War.[5] The mill remained semi-derelict until 1986, when restoration was started, being completed in 1991[3]

Today’s visitors can still explore the Mills upper two floors, whilst the ground floor is a holiday cottage for two. The shop with tea rooms to serve visitors to the mill is now also a holiday cottage.[6]

Description

For a description of the machinery, see Mill machinery.

Sarre windmill is a three-storey smock mill on a two-storey brick base. It has four double patent sails carried on a cast-iron windshaft. The mill is winded by a fantail.[2] The Brake Wheel is a composite one, with iron arms and a wooden rim. This drives a cast-iron Wallower. The Great Spur Wheel is also of cast iron. The mill drives two pairs of millstones, overdrift.[3]

Millers

References for above:-[2][3][4][5][7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "SARRE MILL, CANTERBURY ROAD (south side), SARRE, THANET, KENT". English Heritage. Retrieved 2008-04-19.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Coles Finch, William (1933). Watermills and Windmills. London: C W Daniel Company. p. 272.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Sarre Mill - a history". Sarre mill. Retrieved 2008-04-19.
  4. 1 2 Bygone Kent. Volume (Rainham: Meresborough Books) 17 (1): 29–33. January 1996. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. 1 2 West, Jenny (1973). The Windmills of Kent. London: Charles Skilton Ltd. pp. 68–71. ISBN 0284-98534-1.
  6. ↑ Hoseasons Sarre Windmill Retrieved 2012-02-27
  7. ↑ "Directory of Kent Mill People". The Mills Archive Trust. Retrieved 2008-04-19.

External links

Coordinates: 51°20′23″N 1°14′35″E / 51.33972°N 1.24306°E / 51.33972; 1.24306

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