Pratt's Mill, Crowborough Explained

Crowborough Windmill
Name Of Mill:Pratt's Mill
Gbgridref:TQ 518 311
Coordinates:51.059°N 0.165°W
Operator:Private
Built:1862
Purpose:Corn mill
Type:Tower
Storeys:Five storeys
Sail Number:Four sails
Sail Type:Patent sails
Winding:Fantail
Pairs Of Millstones:Three pairs
Lost:Truncated 1927

Pratt's Mill is a tower mill at Crowborough, Sussex, England which has been truncated and converted to residential accommodation.

History

Pratt's Mill was built between September 1861 and February 1862.[1] The machinery from Calverley Mill, Tunbridge Wells was used in the construction of the mill. On 3 February 1862 the son of the miller was killed when he became entangled in the machinery. The mill was working by wind until 1907 and then by steam until 1922. Frank Brangwyn, RA painted the mill when it was without sails and fantail. The picture appears in an early book on windmills.[2] In 1927 the mill was converted into residential accommodation, being reduced in height to three storeys.[3]

Description

As built, Pratt's Mill was a five-storey brick tower mill clad in peg tiles. It had four Patent sails and the Kentish-style cap was winded by a fantail. All that remains today is the lower three storeys of the tower, with various additions and extensions.[3] Hemming states that the mill may have driven three pairs of millstones.[4]

Millers

References for above:-[3] [5]

External links

Further reading

Book: Hemming, Peter. 1936. Windmills in Sussex. C W Daniel. London. Online version

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Old Crowborough Windmill. The Weald. 2008-05-14.
  2. Book: Preston, Hayter . Brangwyn, Frank . amp . 1923. Windmills. 109–112. The Bodley Head Limited. London.
  3. Book: Brunnarius, Martin. 1979. The Windmills of Sussex. 130, 196. Philimore. Chichester. 0-85033-345-8.
  4. Windmills in Sussex, p105-106
  5. Web site: Crowborough Tower Mill . The Weald. 2008-05-14.