Rock Mill, Washington

Washington Windmill
The mill in 2005
Map
Origin
Mill nameRock Mill
Grid referenceTQ 128 137
Coordinates50°54′42″N 0°23′48″W / 50.9117°N 0.3966°W / 50.9117; -0.3966
Operator(s)Private
Year built1823
Information
PurposeCorn mill
TypeSmock mill
StoreysThree store smock
Base storeysSingle-storey base
Smock sidesEight sides
No. of sailsFour sails
Type of sailsPatent sails (missing)
WindingFantail (missing)
No. of pairs of millstonesThree pairs
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameRock Windmill
Designated24 February 1977
Reference no.1354092

Rock Mill is a Grade II listed[1] smock mill at Washington, West Sussex, England, which has been converted to residential use.

History

Rock Mill was built in 1823.[2] The mill was working at the outbreak of the First World War but was converted to a house in about 1919, using the machinery as decoration.[3] The composer John Ireland bought the mill in 1953[2] and died there in 1962.[4] As of 2007, the mill is used as offices.[2]

Description

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

Rock Mill is a three-storey smock mill on a single-storey base, formerly carrying a beehive cap winded by a fantail. It had four Patent sails and drove three pairs of millstones (two pairs French Burr and one pair of Peak stones).[3]

Millers

  • Thomas Harwood, 1837[3]
  • Henry Harwood, 1837-40[3]
  • E. Mitchell, 1845-55[3]
  • S.A. Coote, 1890[3]

References

  1. ^ Historic England. "ROCK WINDMILL, ROCK LANE, WASHINGTON, HORSHAM, WEST SUSSEX (1354092)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
  2. ^ a b c "Rock Mill". Washington village. Archived from the original on 18 February 2007. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Brunarrius, Martin (1979). The Windmills of Sussex. London & Chichester: Phillimore. pp. 126–127. ISBN 0-85033-345-8.
  4. ^ "The Songs of John Ireland". Hyperion Records. Retrieved 4 November 2008.