Stanford Windmill Explained

Stanford Windmill
Location Of Mill:TR 128 378
Coordinates:51.1003°N 1.0381°W
Built:1857
Purpose:Corn mill
Type:Tower mill
Storeys:Five storeys
Sail Number:Four
Sail Type:Patent sails
Windshaft:Cast iron
Winding:Fantail
Fantail Blades:Eight blades
Auxpower:Paraffin engine
Oil engine 1936 -
Electric motor - 1969
Pairs Of Millstones:Four pairs

Stanford Windmill is a Grade II* listed tower mill in Stanford, Kent, England that was built in 1857. It stands on Kennett Lane in Stanford.

History

Stanford mill was built in 1857 by the Ashford millwright John Hill. The tower of the mill was cracked when a bomb was dropped nearby during World War I. A single cylinder paraffin engine was fitted between the wars.[1] This was replaced by a Ruston & Hornsby engine in 1936. The mill had a new pair of sails in 1925, 1930[1] and 1936. It worked by wind until 1946, in which year the shutters were removed from the sails. The sails and cap roof were removed in 1961,[2] and a corrugated asbestos roof built on the cap frame. Milling continued by engine until 1969, with the paraffin engine being replaced by an electric motor. Some of the milling furniture was used in the restoration of Draper's Mill, Margate in the 1970s.[3]

Description

Stanford mill is a five-storey tower mill which formerly had a Kentish-type cap. It had four patent sails carried on a cast-iron windshaft. The mill was winded by a fantail and there was a stage at first-floor level. The mill drove four pairs of millstones, two steel mills and two roller mills.[1] The brake wheel is a composite one, with iron arms and a wooden rim. This drives a cast-iron wallower. The great spur wheel is also of cast iron. The mill drives to the millstones is overdrift.[3]

Millers

References for above:-[1] [3] [4]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Coles Finch, William. William Coles Finch. 1933. Watermills and Windmills. 282. C W Daniel Company. London.
  2. Web site: Stanford Mill. The Mills Archive Trust. 2008-04-19. (Original source:- Milling, 14 July 1961)
  3. Book: West, Jenny. 1973. The Windmills of Kent. 73–75. Charles Skilton Ltd.. London. 0-284-98534-1.
  4. Web site: Directory of Kent Mill People . The Mills Archive Trust . 2008-04-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090416174906/http://www.millarchive.com/kent/millpeople/Kent%20Mill%20People.htm . 2009-04-16 .