Kings Windmill
|
also known as
-
Shipley Windmill
-
Vincent's Mill
Shipley, Sussex
|
|
Shipley Windmill served as the fictional home
of the hero of the BBC Television series Jonathan Creek.
Click here
 to read all about it. |
|
|
This mill was built in 1879 by Messrs Grist and
Steele, Horsham millwrights. Machinery from a windmill at Coldwaltham is
believed to have been incorporated in the mill. The mill worked commercially
until 1926, but towards the end of this time powered by a steam engine
Shipley is an eight-sided smock mill built on a
brick base, which is two storeys high. Above the base the smock mill is another
three/four more storeys constructed of wood, tapering towards the top. Above
this is a rotating cap, that carries the sails or sweeps. At the back of
the cap is the fantail, set at right angles to the sails, this is used to keep
the sails/sweeps facing directly into the wind.
The mill was was bought in 1906 by Hilaire
Belloc, who owned it until his death in 1953. It was restored as a memorial
to Belloc soon after his death. The restoration was done by E Hole and Sons,
the Burgess Hill millwrights. The restored mill was opened to visitors for
the first time in 1958. West Sussex County Council had the responsibility
for the upkeep of the mill, which remained in the ownership of the Belloc
family. The Shipley Windmill Charitable Trust was formed in 1987 and now has
the responsibility for the maintenance. Further restoration work was carried
out by Hole's between 1987 and 1990, when the mill re-opened, although with
only two sails at that time. The second pair of sails was fitted in 1991. A
new pair of sails and a new stock were fitted in November 2004. |
 |
This Mill is in working order. It occasionally
grinds corn for flour and is open to visitors on the first, second and third
Sundays each month, and Bank Holiday Mondays between 2-5pm throughout the spring
and summer.
We have an article on
how a smock mill works
 with an
explanation of the parts involved.
A little more technical
It has four Patent Sails carried on a cast iron
windshaft. The Brake Wheel is wood, driving a cast iron Wallower on an oak
Upright Shaft. This carries a cast iron Great Spur Wheel which drives three
pairs of overdrift millstones.
Patent Sails, or shuttered sweeps are fitted to
Shipley Mill, their advantage is that they can be adjusted without the need to
stop the Mill. Each of the four sweeps carries a set of shutters, which can be
opened and closed like a Venetian blind, by the movement of the uplongs, long
wooden rods to which the shutters are connected. At the centre of the four
sweeps, the uplongs are coupled to the spider, which connects through links and
triangles to the striking rod, an iron bar that goes right through the windshaft,
which carries the sweeps. At the back of the mill the striking rod connects to
the chainwheel, from which is hung an endless chain, reaching down to the stage
outside the second floor of the Mill. The striking weight is hung on this chain
to hold the shutters either open or closed. The speed of the Mill can be
regulated within limits by altering the weight, a heavy weight will hold the
shutters tightly closed in a light breeze, while a lighter weight can be used in
a strong wind to allow the shutters to open slightly in the gusts. Ten to twelve
turns per minute of the sweeps is a good speed for grinding.
When we visited
We found an attractive mill, and you could
see it from the bridleway/footpath without too much of a problem, but was a
little too near really to get the perspective right.
The filming of the TV series Jonathan Creek
at this windmill makes it a recognisable mill when you first see it,
although they did manage to make it look far larger on TV.
Further information Grid
|
Location: |
Kings Windmill, Shipley, Sussex |
|
Ceremonial County: |
Sussex |
|
Grid Reference: |
TQ 143218.
OS
Sheet - 198. |
|
Map Link: |
OS
TQ144218
|
|
Aerial photo: |
|
|
Route(s):
|
|
|
Best Times to Visit: |
|
|
E-mail: |
David.L.French@btopenworld.com |
|
Website: |
www.shipleywindmill.org.uk
|
|
Other useful
websites: |
mills
open
wikipedia
WW
LB
|
|
Nearby Locations: |
|
|
Other Relevant pages: |
|
|
Classification: |
Windmill |
Date Updated: 05/2008 |
Planning Grid
|
Location: |
Kings Windmill, Shipley, Sussex |
|
Grid Reference: |
TQ 143218
OS
Sheet - 198 |
|
Getting there: |
From
A24/A272 crossroads (traffic lights), take A272 W. After 1 mile turn left to
Shipley, follow brown signs. Take first right and follow road round to car
parking on left. Mill is down bridleway on left beyond house. |
|
Access: |
Footpath runs up the bridleway/mill drive then
up the side of the side of the windmill property, allowing good views, but
too close. |
|
Parking: |
Car parking about 50 yards away |
|
Facilities: |
|
|
Things To Do,
See and Photograph: |
|
|
What to take: |
|
|
Nature highlights: |
|
|
Address: |
|
|
Postcode: |
|
|
Telephone: |
Gillian &
David French - 01403 730439 |
|
Opening times: |
April to
October, 1st, 2nd & 3rd Sundays, plus Bank Holidays, National Mills Sunday &
Whit Saturday 14.00 – 17.00.
Parties by arrangement.
Open dates can be check from
the listing
|
|
Charges: |
|
|
Photo Restrictions: |
|
|
Other Restrictions: |
|
|
Special Needs Access: |
|
|
Special Needs Facilities: |
|
|
Children Facilities: |
|
|
Dogs Allowed: |
|
|
CIN Page Ref: |
kings |
Date Updated: 05/2008 |
Please let us know any other information that we
can add to the Further information and Planning Grids or page and any errors that you discover. Before making a long trip to any location it is always
wise to double check the current information, websites like magazines may be
correct at the time the information is written, but things change and it is of
course impossible to double check all entries on a regular basis. If you have
any good photographs that you feel would improve the illustration of this page
then please let us have copies. In referring to this page it is helpful if you
quote the CIN Page Ref at the bottom of the Planning Grid above. To print the
planning grid select it then right click and print the selected area.
Please submit information on locations you discover so
that this system continues to grow.
|
