Wandsworth Common Windmill

Wandsworth Common Windmill is a conserved grade II listed[1] smock mill at Wandsworth Common, in the London Borough of Wandsworth in the United Kingdom.

Wandsworth Common Windmill
The mill in 2010
Map
Origin
Mill nameWandsworth Common Mill
Grid referenceTQ 26805 74465
Coordinates51°27′18″N 0°10′35″W / 51.454973°N 0.176347°W / 51.454973; -0.176347
Year built1837
Information
PurposeDrainage mill
TypeSmock mill
StoreysThree-storey smock
Base storeysLow base of less than one storey
Smock sidesSix sides
No. of sailsFour sails
Type of sailsPatent sails
WindingFantail

History

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Wandsworth Common Windmill was built in 1837 to drain water from the railway cutting of the London and Southampton Railway. The water was pumped into an ornamental lake on Wandsworth Common known as the Black Sea, which had been dug by Mr Wilson, the founder of Price's Candle Works. The mill was working c1870,[2] but the Black Sea was drained and filled in around 1884.[1] The mill then lost its purpose and ceased work, with the sails and fantail being removed.[2]

Description

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Wandsworth Common Windmill is a small hexagonal smock mill built on a low brick base. It had a small cap and was powered by four Patent sails. The cap was winded by a fantail. The smock stands today, with a reconstructed cap, replacing the pyramidal roof it bore in the 1960s.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Historic England. "Windpump called The Windmill, Windmill Road SW18, Wandsworth, Wandsworth, Greater London (1065474)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  2. ^ a b c Farries, Kenneth G & Mason, Martin T (1966). The Windmills of Surrey and Inner London. London: Charles Skilton. pp. 212–219.
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