Great Mill, Sheerness

Infobox Windmill
name = Great Mill, Sheerness


caption = The base in 2003
name_of_mill = Great Mill
Ride's Mill
location_of_mill = TQ 921 746
Coord|51.438|0.763|display=inline|format=dms
operator =
built = 1816
purpose = Corn mill
type = Smock mill
storeys = Four storey smock
base_storeys = Two storey base
roundhouse_storeys =
smock_sides =
sail_number = Four
sail_type = Patent sails
windshaft =
winding = Hand winded
fantail_blades =
auxpower = Steam engine 1889 - 1918
pairs_of_millstones= Three pairs
stone_size =
saw_type =
pump_type =
scoop_dia =
lost = 1924
other = A new smock has been built on the surviving base to serve as residential accommodation.

Great Mill or Ride's Mill is a Grade II listedcite web| url= http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=444800&mode=quick| publisher = English Heritage| title = REMAINS OF CORNMILL TO REAR OF NUMBER 11, HIGH STREET (west side), SHEERNESS, SWALE, KENT| accessdate= 2008-04-20] smock mill in Sheerness, Kent, England that was demolished in 1924, and now has a new smock tower built on it as residential accommodation.

History

Work on building the "Great mill" was started by the millwright Humphrey of Cranbrook in 1813. Owing to the nature of the ground the mill was built on it was necessary to lay deep foundations. Lack of funds meant that the mill was left as an unfinished base for a couple of years before Thomas Webb, who owned the Little Mill, bought the unfinished mill and financed its completion in 1816. A steam engine was added in 1889 as auxiliary power. The mill was worked by wind until 1905, when the sails and stage were removed. It worked by steam engine until 1918, and was demolished in 1924. The mill's brick base was left, serving as a corn store in the 1930s.cite book | first = William| last = Coles Finch| year = 1933| title = Watermills and Windmills| pages = p275-76| publisher = C W Daniel Company| location = London]

.cite web| url= http://www.kentnews.co.uk/kent-news/Sheerness-windmill-gutted-in-mystery-fire-newsinkent9144.aspx?news=local| publisher = Kent News| title = Arson attack on Sheerness windmill ruled out| accessdate= 2008-04-22]

Description

"Great Mill" was a four storey smock mill on a two storey brick base, with a Kentish style cap carrying four patent sails. It was winded by hand, no fantail being fitted. There was a stage at second floor level. The mill drove three pairs of millstones, and the steam engine drove a further two pairs, as well as the millstones in the windmill. The mill was convert|66|ft|m|2 high, and the brickwork in the base is convert|22|in|mm thick. The replica has a smock built on a steel frame, with a Kentish style cap.

Millers

*Thomas Webb 1816 – 1864
*G Ride & Son 1864 – 1918

References for above:-cite web| url= http://www.millarchive.com/kent/millpeople/Kent%20Mill%20People.htm| publisher = The Mills Archive Trust| title = Directory of Kent Mill People| accessdate= 2008-04-22]

References

External links

* [http://www.windmillworld.com/millid/2734.htm Windmill World page] on the mill.