Maintaining your windmill

[Nemesis]

From Heritage Link news:

Maintaining your Windmill: 19th October

The Mills Section of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings is holding a special one day course at the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum, Singleton, Sussex on Friday 19th October.

The day is tailored to meet a real need as more and more people are finding themselves involved with maintenance of windmills in a 'hands on capacity'. Learn how to look after your mill with the help of the country's leading windmill experts who will be presenting this course. Most of what will be discussed cannot be found in books.

See the booking form at http://www.spab.org.uk/downloads/mills/ODC_2007_Booking_Form.pdf All profits will go to the SPAB Mills Section's Mills Repair Fund. For further information contact Simon the Mills Section Secretary on 020 7456 0909 or email millsinfo @ spab. org. uk

 

[charlie-ia]

not got a windmill, but am interested in what we are told is our "granary" - two story stone barn. all the ones i can find are as ruined as ours, or converted. would the upstairs the floor have been some kind of specially ventilated thing? does anyone know where i can find out more?
thankyou!

 

[Nemesis]

I've posted on the other thread.

 

[charlie-ia]

thankyou!

 

[Penners]

Our house used to be the miller's house. Sadly, the mill has now gone - demolished in the 1960's.

You can see the house in the background. Based on the mode of dress, can anyone roughly date the picture for me?

 

[Nemesis]

Well - latter half of the 19th century, but until I find my books oon historic costume can't be more specific... the women's hats are interesting. Riding habits?

 

[Penners]

Yes - I wondered about riding-wear. That sort of exaggerated top-hat style suggests that, I believe.

 

[Nemesis]

Possibly a trip out for the day to the local mill?
Driving not riding I supect - riding would have been side saddle and that's not a riding habit I don't think, which would have had some sort of 'train'.

The hat seems to have some sort of veil raised - which would have been to protect the complexion.

 

[alice]

Definately riding habits, I think. The split peplums on two of the ladies jackets are typical of riding habits. Because they very well could be riding habits, they don't have an exaggerated hard bustle so it's a bit hard to date exactly. Tailored (masculine style tailoring) was becoming more fashionable about 1890 and the bustle was going out in 1895.

Based on the more masculine, tailored styles (despite the suspicion they're riding habits), narrowing skirts and very slight mutton leg on the sleeves, I'd put the picture between 1890 and 1895.

alice

 

[Nemesis]

And of course there is an internet site:

http://users.tinyworld.co.uk/sidesaddlelady/Side%20Saddle%20Lady%20museum.html

and much serious writing:

http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract;jsessionid=73DB6725A49C8B7F131BDAEFD9BB282D.tomcat1?fromPage=online&aid=111141

The presence of others and adog made me think maybe they had driven there. The cart which is being held doesn't I admit look too comfy but you never know...

Sad though that the mill vanished in the sixties, along with so much else of interest! Lucky the house survived.

(I expect tomorrow Gareth will tell us all about the mill and its history...)

 

[Penners]

Thanks Nem and Alice. It's nice to have a date for the picture.

Incidentally, the tree whose outline you can see between the mill and the house is still there, and looks exactly the same today. However, the door beside the bay window in the gable end of the house has gone (bay window still there).

I am, however, slightly puzzled by what appears to be a satellite dish on the side of the house! :?

 

[Nemesis]

Strange - I was going to ask if the tree was there still, and saw the dish but thought maybe it was spots before the eyes...

Bet you Gareth can tell about the mill though!

 

[Penners]

I shall be very interested if he can.

 

[Nemesis]

He's a bit of an expert you know...

I've sent him the pic anyhow, see what he knows.

This could be useful too:

http://www.suffolkmills.org.uk/

as could of course SPAB Mills (of which Gareth is Chair) and the Mills Archive.

http://www.millsarchive.com/

 

[Gareth Hughes]

I shall be very interested if he can.

I will if you can be more specific about the location - though it looks west Suffolk rather than east? There are broadly similar ones at Dalham and Great Thurlow.

 

[Penners]

Edwardstone, Gareth. Near Boxford.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Edwardstone, Gareth. Near Boxford.

From Peter Dolman's research notes at the Mills Archive:

Edwardstone

Dem 1918 said to be 300 yrs old (!) (unlikely, looks c.1800)
Base stood till mid 60’s, Bungalow now on site


Millers
Henry Baker 1802, 96 wind
Edward James Richardson 1925 w&s (wind and steam)
Benjamin Sowman 1885
D Alderton 1858
Amos Tiffen 1858
Mrs Susannah Jane Richardson 1908 w&s
John Crooking ? 1836

They have four photos of the mill online, including the one you posted, and one of E J Richardson looking characterful.

 

[Penners]

Many thanks, Gareth. The locals had told me that the mill went in the 1960's, but I didn't realise it had been out of commission for so long before that.

I must register for the Mills Archive and have a look at the other pictures.

Many thanks again,
David