Ovenden's Mill, Polegate

Ovenden's Mill or Mockett's Mill is a grade II* listed[1] tower mill at Polegate, East Sussex, England which has been restored but is now in a poor state and the tower is not open to the public. The impressive milling museum is open but only on certain Open Days. If you look at the "Polegate windmill" Facebook page you will find more details. We are arranging these days at the moment but the first one should be National Mills weekend with the mill open on the Sunday.

Polegate Windmill
The mill in 1997
Map
Origin
Mill nameOvenden's Mill
Mockett's Mill
Mill locationTQ 582 041
Coordinates50°48′54″N 0°14′38″E / 50.815°N 0.244°E / 50.815; 0.244
Operator(s)Private
Year built1817
Information
PurposeCorn mill
TypeTower mill
StoreysFour storeys
No. of sailsFour sails
Type of sailsPatent sails
WindshaftCast iron
WindingFantail
Fantail bladesSix blades
Auxiliary powerEngine
No. of pairs of millstonesTwo pairs, a third pair driven by engine

History

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Ovenden's Mill was built in 1817 and was working by wind until 1943.[2] The mill was worked by auxiliary engine, latterly an electric motor, until 1965. By the time the mill stopped working, it was becoming derelict. Eastbourne and District Preservation Trust bought the mill and grounds, and a restoration was carried out by E Hole and Sons, the Burgess Hill millwrights. One of the new stocks broke in July 1974, bringing the sail with it. This particular stock was only seven years old. Thompson's, the Alford millwrights fitted a replacement stock and two new sails in May 1976.[3] Further restoration work was undertaken in 2004,[4] including the fitting of a cowl to the adjoining malthouse.[5] Two new sails were fitted in 2009.

Description

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Ovenden's Mill is a four-storey brick tower mill with a domed cap winded by a fantail. There is a stage at first floor level. It had four Patent sails carried on a cast iron Windshaft. The Brake Wheel is wooden. The mill drove two pairs of overdrift millstones, with a third pair driven underdrift by auxiliary engine.[3] The tower is 45 feet (13.72 m) high to the curb.[2]

Millers

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  • Joseph Seymour 1817–1857
  • Mathias Mockett 1857–
  • George Thomas
  • Ephraim Ovenden 1918–
  • Albert Ovenden – 1965

References for above:-[3]

Further reading

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Hemming, Peter (1936). Windmills in Sussex. London: C W Daniel. Online version

References

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  1. ^ Historic England. "MOCKETT'S MILL, PARK CROFT, POLEGATE, WEALDEN, EAST SUSSEX (1043086)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 May 2008.
  2. ^ a b "Polegate Windmill". All About Sussex. Retrieved 13 May 2008.
  3. ^ a b c Brunnarius, Martin (1979). The Windmills of Sussex. Chichester: Philimore. pp. 85–87, 191. ISBN 0-85033-345-8.
  4. ^ "Polegate Windmill, East Sussex – 17th October 2004". Roughwood. Retrieved 13 May 2008.
  5. ^ "COWL SET IN PLACE AT OLD MALTHOUSE". Eastbourne Herald. Retrieved 13 May 2008.
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