Rottingdean Windmill | |
---|---|
Origin | |
Mill name | Beacon Mill New Mill |
Mill location | TQ 366 025 |
Coordinates | 50°48′22″N0°03′47″W / 50.806°N 0.063°W |
Operator(s) | Rottingdean Preservation Society |
Year built | 1802 |
Information | |
Purpose | Corn mill |
Type | Smock mill |
Storeys | Three-storey smock |
Base storeys | Single-storey base |
Smock sides | Eight sides |
No. of sails | Four sails |
Type of sails | Patent sails |
Windshaft | Cast iron |
Winding | Fantail |
Beacon Mill or New Mill is a grade II listed [1] smock mill at Rottingdean, Sussex, England which has been restored as a seamark. It sits within the boundary of the Beacon Hill Local Nature Reserve.
Beacon Mill, was built in 1802. There are records of an earlier mill on the site, thought to have been a post mill. [2] During the digging of the foundations, a human skeleton was found [3] of an 'ancient warrior with a sword' but the remains were stolen while the labourers had lunch and have never been recovered. [4] The mill was working until 1881 [2] and by 1890 was in such bad condition that demolition was considered.
In 1905, the Marquis of Abergavenny had the mill repaired, but it was derelict again by the early 1920s. It was 1935 before the mill was restored again, the millwrighting being done by Neve's of Heathfield and new sails were made by Holman's, the Canterbury millwrights. In 1969, the mill was leaning to the north east, and Hole's, the Burgess Hill millwrights erected a steel frame inside the smock to support the mill, and fitted new sails. [3] The steel framing was extended into the cap in 1974. [2]
Beacon Mill is a three-storey smock mill on a single-storey brick base. It has a Kentish-style cap, and four Patent sails. It originally had a fantail, but this is now missing. [3]
The Rottingdean windmill was the inspiration for the trademark (logo) for the publishing house of Heinemann. It was designed by Sir William Nicholson, a Rottingdean resident, and on older Heinemann hardbacks you will see it engraved on the back board of the book. Although Rottingdean Mill was Nicholson's inspiration, he actually traced an older Dutch post-mill as his final design. Updated versions of the windmill are still used for Heinemann publications.
Beacon Mill featured on the front cover of the album "Vale Industrial" by Brighton band The Tenderfoot. [5]
The mill also featured in the music video for That Old Pair of Jeans by Fatboy Slim.[ citation needed ]
The cover of ‘Under The Stars’ by Envy of None also features the windmill.
Beacon Mill is open to the public from 14:00 to 16:30 on both days of National Mills Weekend, and on the third Sunday of each month from May to September. [6]
Heckington Windmill is the only eight-sailed tower windmill still standing in the United Kingdom with its sails intact.
King's Mill or Vincent's Mill, Shipley, West Sussex, England, is a smock mill built in 1879.
Rottingdean is a village in the city of Brighton and Hove, on the south coast of England. It borders the villages of Saltdean, Ovingdean and Woodingdean, and has a historic centre, often the subject of picture postcards.
The Clayton Windmills, known locally as Jack and Jill, stand on the South Downs above the village of Clayton, West Sussex, England. They comprise a post mill and a tower mill, and the roundhouse of a former post mill. All three are Grade II* listed buildings.
Union Mill is a Grade I listed smock mill in Cranbrook, Kent, England, which has been restored to working order. It is the tallest smock mill in the United Kingdom.
New Mill is a Grade II listed smock mill in Northbourne, Kent, England that was built in 1848 and which has been converted to residential accommodation.
Great Mill or Ride's Mill is a Grade II listed smock mill just off the High Street in Sheerness, Kent, England, that was demolished in 1924, leaving the brick base standing. It now has a new smock tower built on it as residential accommodation.
Windmill Hill Mill is a grade II* listed post mill at Herstmonceux, Sussex, England which has been restored and now operates as a working mill. The mill is open to the public on most Sundays from Easter until October.
King's Mead Mill is a grade II listed smock mill at Battle, Sussex, England, which has been converted to residential accommodation.
Heritage Mill, or Beard's Mill is a grade II listed smock mill at North Chailey, Sussex, England, which is maintained as a landmark and open to the public.
Blackdown Mill or Cherry Clack Mill is a grade II listed smock mill at Punnetts Town, East Sussex, England, which has been restored.
Gibbet Mill, Tillingham Mill, Barry's Mill or New Mill is a grade II listed cosmetically reconstructed smock mill at Rye, East Sussex, England. Today it serves as bed and breakfast accommodation.
West Blatchington Windmill is a Grade II* listed smock mill at West Blatchington, Brighton and Hove, in the historic county of Sussex, England which has been restored and is open to the public.
Meeten's Mill is a grade II listed smock mill at West Chiltington, Sussex, England, which has been converted to residential use.
Waterhall Mill, also known as Westdene Windmill, is a grade II listed tower mill at Westdene, Sussex, England which has been converted to residential use.
Buckland Windmill is a grade II listed smock mill at Buckland, Surrey, England which has been restored to working order. It is the only surviving wind saw mill in the United Kingdom.
Shiremark Mill, also known as Kingsfold Mill or Capel Mill was a listed Smock mill at Capel, Surrey, England, which was burnt down in 1972.
Terling Windmill is a grade II listed Smock mill at Terling, Essex, England, which has been converted to residential use.
Drinkstone Windmills are a pair of windmills at Drinkstone, Suffolk, England. They consist a post mill and a smock mill. The post mill is Grade I listed and the smock mill is Grade II* listed. The mills were known as Clover's Mills as they were always worked by the Clover family.
Collis Mill is a Grade II* listed smock mill at Great Thurlow, Suffolk, England, which has been restored.
Hemming, Peter (1936). Windmills in Sussex. London: C W Daniel. Online version Archived 12 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine