Ramsey Windmill, Essex

Ramsey Mill

The mill in working order, c1920
Origin
Mill name Ramsey Mill
Mill location TM 209 304
51°55′44″N 1°12′47″E / 51.929°N 1.213°E / 51.929; 1.213
Operator(s) Private
Year built 1842
Information
Purpose Corn mill
Type Post mill
Storeys Three storeys
Roundhouse storeys Three storey roundhouse
Number of sails Four sails
Type of sails Double Patent sails
Windshaft Cast iron
Winding Fantail
Fantail blades Six blades
Number of pairs of millstones Three pairs
Other information Moved from Woodbridge, Suffolk

Ramsey Windmill is a grade II* listed[1] post mill at Ramsey, Essex, England which has been restored.

History

Ramsey Windmill was originally built in Woodbridge, Suffolk. It was the north westerly one of four mills on the Mill Hills shown on the 1838 tithe map. The mill was moved to Ramsey in 1842 by Henry Collins, millwright of Woodbridge. The mill was working until the Second World War, and then left to deteriorate until 1974 when the owner, Mr Michael Organ, set about restoring the mill.[2] Members of the Suffolk Mills Group assisted with work on Ramsey Windmill between 1974 and 1978.[3]

Description

For an explanation of the various pieces of machinery, see Mill machinery.

Ramsey Windmill is a post mill with a three storey roundhouse. The mill was winded by a roof mounted fantail, similar to that seen at Icklesham today. It has four double Patent sails. There are two pairs of millstones in the breast and a third pair in the tail.[2]

Trestle and roundhouse

The trestle is of oak. The main post is 17 feet 6 inches (5.33 m) in length, 27 inches (686 mm) square at its base. The mill was built with a roundhouse from the start. Having started life in Suffolk, and being moved by a Suffolk millwright, the normal practice from that county was followed, with the roundhouse having three storeys.[4]

Body

The body of the mill measures 16 feet (4.88 m) by 10 feet 4 inches (3.15 m) in plan. The mill is 48 feet 6 inches (14.78 m) high overall. The Crowntree is 22 1⁄2 inches (570 mm) square in section. The side girts are 9 inches (229 mm) by 14 inches (356 mm) in section.[4]

Sails and Windshaft

Ramsey Mill has a cast iron windshaft and four double Patent sails.[4]

Machinery

The wooden Head Wheel is of clasp arm construction, 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 m) diameter, with 90 cogs of 3 inches (76 mm) pitch. It drives two pairs of overdrift French Burr millstones via a cast iron Wallower and Spur Wheel. The cast iron Tail Wheel is 4 feet (1.22 m) diameter. It drives a single pair of underdrift 3 feet 4 inches (1.02 m) diameter millstones via an Upright Shaft and Spur wheel.[4]

Fantail

Ramsey Windmill was winded by a six-bladed roof mounted fantail, which blew off in 1939. The drive was down the back of the mill and thence to a ring set above the join of the quarterbars to the main post.[4][5]

Millers

References for above:-[2]

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References

  1. ↑ "RAMSEY WINDMILL, THE STREET (north side), RAMSEY AND PARKESTON, TENDRING, ESSEX". English Heritage. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
  2. 1 2 3 Farries, Kenneth (1985). Essex Windmills, Millers and Millwrights - Volume Four- A Review by Parishes, F-R. Edinburgh: Charles Skilton. pp. 107–109. ISBN 0-284-98642-9.
  3. ↑ Suffolk Mills Group (1981). Thelnetham Windmill, Report on the Restoration Programme November 1979 - December 1980. Ipswich: Suffolk Mills Group. p. 12.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Farries, Kenneth (1984). Essex Windmills, Millers and Millwrights - Volume Two - A Technical Review. Edinburgh: Charles Skilton. pp. 29–42. ISBN 0-284-98637-2.
  5. ↑ This is a departure from the normal practice, which is to drive the wheels that carry the external ladder at the back of the mill.
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