Ovenden's Mill or Mockett's Mill is a grade II* listed[1] tower mill at Polegate, East Sussex, England which has been restored but is now in a poor state and the tower is not open to the public. The impressive milling museum is open but only on certain Open Days. If you look at the "Polegate windmill" Facebook page you will find more details. We are arranging these days at the moment but the first one should be National Mills weekend with the mill open on the Sunday.
| Polegate Windmill | |
|---|---|
 The mill in 1997 | |
 | |
| Origin | |
| Mill name | Ovenden's Mill Mockett's Mill |
| Mill location | TQ 582 041 |
| Coordinates | 50°48′54″N 0°14′38″E / 50.815°N 0.244°E |
| Operator(s) | Private |
| Year built | 1817 |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn mill |
| Type | Tower mill |
| Storeys | Four storeys |
| No. of sails | Four sails |
| Type of sails | Patent sails |
| Windshaft | Cast iron |
| Winding | Fantail |
| Fantail blades | Six blades |
| Auxiliary power | Engine |
| No. of pairs of millstones | Two pairs, a third pair driven by engine |
History
editOvenden'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 bought the mill and grounds, and a restoration was 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 adjoining malthouse.[5] Two new sails were fitted in 2009.
Description
editOvenden'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]
Millers
edit- Joseph Seymour 1817–1857
- Mathias Mockett 1857–
- George Thomas
- Ephraim Ovenden 1918–
- Albert Ovenden – 1965
References for above:-[3]
Further reading
editHemming, Peter (1936). Windmills in Sussex. London: C W Daniel. Online version
References
edit- ^ Historic England. "MOCKETT'S MILL, PARK CROFT, POLEGATE, WEALDEN, EAST SUSSEX (1043086)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 May 2008.
- ^ a b "Polegate Windmill". All About Sussex. Retrieved 13 May 2008.
- ^ a b c Brunnarius, Martin (1979). The Windmills of Sussex. Chichester: Philimore. pp. 85–87, 191. ISBN 0-85033-345-8.
- ^ "Polegate Windmill, East Sussex – 17th October 2004". Roughwood. Retrieved 13 May 2008.
- ^ "COWL SET IN PLACE AT OLD MALTHOUSE". Eastbourne Herald. Retrieved 13 May 2008.
External links
edit- Windmill World Page on Polegate windmill.