Jack and Jill Windmills
Clayton, Sussex
Three windmills:- Jill, (white post mill),
Jack (tower mill), Duncton Gate Mill
roundhouse remains of a post mill is near to Jack.
Duncton Mill
Duncton Mill was built in 1765. She was owned by Viscount Montague and leased
for 99 years. Duncton Mill was demolished in 1866, leaving the roundhouse to be
used as a store. Near to Jack
Jill
Jill is a post mill originally built in Dyke Road, Brighton, in 1821. She was
known as Lashmar's New Mill and was built to replace Lashmar's Old Mill. In
1830, the Windshaft broke, bringing the sails crashing to the ground. A painting
by Nash dated 1839 and an engraving in the Handbook to Brighton (1847) show her
to have had a roof mounted Fantail, similar to the arrangement still found on
Icklesham windmill. Lashmar's New Mill was the most southerly of the three Dyke
Road post mills. In 1852 she was moved to Clayton by a team of horses and oxen.
The working life of the mills ended in 1906 and in 1908 Jill was damaged in a
storm. She lost her fantail and sails over the years until in 1953 restoration
was carried out by E Hole and Son, the Burgess Hill millwrights, funded by
Cuckfield Rural District Council. In 1978, restoration of Jill to working order
was commenced. Jill ground flour again in 1986. During the Great Storm of 1987,
the mill's sails were set in motion with the brake on, setting fire to the mill.
Some members of the Windmill Society were able to get to the mill and save her.
Today, Jill is in working order and open to the public (see below). She produces stoneground wholemeal flour on an occasional basis. The vast majority of her
flour is sold to visitors. It is ground from organic wheat, grown locally in
Sussex. On the occasions when the wind is blowing and Jill is in operation, a
guide is available to explain the process of milling. Jill Windmill is owned by
Mid Sussex District Council.
Jack
Jack is a five storey tower mill built in 1866 to replace Duncton Mill. Worked
as a pair with Jill, Jack worked until c.1907. Unusually Jack mill has a
male name — almost every other mill in the country is considered female. In
1928, while a pit was being dug for a water tank, an Anglo-Saxon skeleton was
discovered. It was later removed to the British Museum. Jack is in private
ownership.
Description of workings/equipment
Duncton Mill
Duncton Mill was a post mill with a single storey roundhouse, four Common sails.
She was winded by hand and had two pairs of millstones. The Head Wheel from
Duncton Mill was used as the Brake Wheel in Jack when that mill was built.
Jill
Jill is a post mill with a two storey roundhouse. She has four Patent Sails and
is winded by a five blade fantail mounted on the tailpole. The windshaft is
wooden, with a cast iron poll end, dated 1831. Jill has two pairs of millstones,
arranged Head and Tail. The compass arm Tail Wheel shows evidence of having been
used as a Brake Wheel at some time. The main Post of Jill is made from four
separate pieces of timber, a feature seen in some Sussex post mills and only
found in this and Argos Hill Mill today.
Jack
Jack is a five storey tower mill with a domed cap. He carries four Patent Sails
and was winded by a five blade fantail. There was a stage at first floor level.
It is believed that Jack was built by the millwright Cooper, of Henfield. In
1873, Jack was fitted with Hammond's Patent Sweep Governor, a feature also
fitted to the post mill at Herstmonceux, which was also run by the Hammonds.
Jack had three pairs of millstones, and room for a fourth pair. All machinery
below windshaft level has been removed. In 1966, Jack was fitted with new sails
as he was to appear in a film. Jack is 44 feet (13.41 m) to the curb, 22 feet 8
inches (6.91 m) diameter at the base and 13 feet (3.96 m) diameter at the curb.
Based on information from Wikipedia
When we visited
From the car park you can see both
Jack and Jill, Jill being just behind the hedge. The picture above was taken
from the car park. There is footpath that runs around the back of both mills to
a lane and the lane comes back to the car park. However there are fairly large
trees all the way round and this makes photography of either mill from a lot of the way
round impossible. It might be better in winter with less leaves. Jill is open
to the public on set dates, see below and Jack is only open to members of the
Jack and Jill Windmills Society, although by doing this they are risking having
their charity status removed, as you cannot offer facilities to members that are
not available to others, and still have charitable status. Dunction Mill remains
are within the grounds of the Jack mill and also not available.
When not open you can't get to the
outside of the Jill Windmill either.
The special feature here is the two
mills together and as this can be photographed from the car park its worth
a tip to photograph it.
Further information Grid
Location: |
Jack and Jill Windmills, Clayton, Sussex |
Ceremonial County: |
Sussex |
Grid Reference: |
TQ 303134.
OS
Sheet - 198. |
Map Link: |
OS
TQ303134
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Aerial photo: |
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Route(s):
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Best Times to Visit: |
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E-mail: |
jillwindmill@hotmail.co.uk |
Website: |
www.jillwindmill.org.uk
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Other useful
websites: |
Mills
open
WW
and WW
and WW
Wiki
LB
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Nearby Locations: |
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Other Relevant pages: |
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Classification: |
Windmill |
Date Updated: 05/2008 |
Planning Grid
Location: |
Jack and Jill Windmills, Clayton, Sussex |
Grid Reference: |
TQ 303134
OS
Sheet - 198 |
Getting there: |
7 miles
north of Brighton, take A273 north from Pycombe towards Hassocks. The mill
is signposted on right after ½ mile. |
Access: |
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Parking: |
Ample free parking in the car park beside the
mills. |
Facilities: |
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Things To Do,
See and Photograph: |
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What to take: |
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Nature highlights: |
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Address: |
Hon
Secretary
Jack & Jill Windmill Society,
53 Brambledean Road
Portslade, BN41 1LP |
Postcode: |
BP6 9PQ |
Telephone: |
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Opening times: |
Jill
May to
September, most Sundays and Bank Holidays, 14.00 - 17.00.
Parties at other times by arrangement.
National
Mills Weekend
Saturday
and Sunday 11.00 - 17.00
Jack (society members
only)-
See schedules
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Charges: |
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Photo Restrictions: |
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Other Restrictions: |
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Special Needs Access: |
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Special Needs Facilities: |
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Children Facilities: |
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Dogs Allowed: |
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CIN Page Ref: |
jack |
Date Updated: 05/2008 |
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