White Mill, Sandwich

White Mill, Sandwich

Origin Information

Mill Location :

TR 322 586
51°16′46″N 1°19′41″E / 51.279397, 1.328177Coordinates: 51°16′46″N 1°19′41″E / 51.279397, 1.328177

Operator(s) :

Kent County Council

Year Built :

1760

Windmill Information

Purpose :

Corn mill

Type :

Smock mill

Storeys :

Three storey smock

Base Storeys :

Single storey base

Smock Sides :

Eight sided

Number of Sails :

Four

Type of Sails :

Spring Sails

Windshaft :

Cast iron

Winding :

Fantail

Fantail Blades :

Six bladed

Auxiliary Power :

Engine

Number of Millstone Pairs :

Two pairs driven by wind, third pair driven by engine

History

White mill was built in 1760. It was marked on Andrews, Drury and Herbert's map of 1769 and the 1819-43 Ordnance Survey map. The mill was worked by the Stanley family for many years.¹. The mill was last worked by wind in 1926.² From then until 1957³ it was being worked by a 28 horsepower (21 kW) oil engine. The mill was repaired in the 1960s by Vincent Pargeter, before he beame a professional millwright. A pair of sails from the demolished windmill at Wingham was erected on the mill. The work was financed by Vincent himself initially, but in 1964 the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings gave a grant for the purchase of materials to repair the mill with. The mill was acquired by Sandwich Borough Council in 1968, and later passed into the ownership of Kent County Council.²

Description

For a description of the machinery, see Mill machinery.

White mill is a three storey smock mill on a single storey brick base. It has four spring sails. The mill is winded by a fantail.¹ The mill drove two pairs of millstones, with a third pair being driven by an engine. Much of the machinery is wood, including the Brake Wheel , Wallower,² Great Spur Wheel and Stone Nuts. The millstones are overdrift.⁴

Gallery

The mill in 2008

Map of Sandwich, 1945, showing the mill.

Brake wheel and wallower.

The brake wheel.

The wallower.

The stone floor.

Engine driven stones on the meal floor.

Great Spur Wheel and engine drive.

Drive to the engine driven stones.

Drive from the engine to the mill.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Coles Finch, William (1933). Watermills and Windmills. London: C W Daniel Company, p271-72.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d West, Jenny (1973). The Windmills of Kent. London: Charles Skilton Ltd., p68-71. SBN 284-98534-1.
^ "Welcome to White Mill Rural Heritage Centre". White Mill Rural Heritage Centre. Retrieved on 2008-04-19.
^ "White Mill: The Windmill & Machinery". The Mills White Mill Rural Heritage Centre. Retrieved on 2008-04-19.