Stock Windmill

which has been restored.

History

"Stock Windmill" was built c1816 joining an existing post mill. In 1845, a second post mill was moved to a site close by. cite book | first = Kenneth| last = Farries| year = 1988| month = | title = Essex Windmills, Millers and Millwrights - Volume Five - A Review by Parishes, S-Z| pages p40-42| publisher - Charles Skilton| location = Edinburgh| id = ISBN 0 284 98821 9] By 1862, the mill had four shuttered sails.cite book | first = Kenneth| last = Farries| year = 1981| month = | title = Essex Windmills, Millers and Millwrights - Volume One – An Historical Review| pages p26| publisher - Charles Skilton| location = London & Edinburgh| id = ISBN 0 284 98641 0] The two post mills were demolished c1890, about which time the millstones were moved down a floor and the drive converted from underdrift to overdrift. A steam engine was added in 1902 and the mill was working by wind until 1930 and afterwards by an internal combustion engine until c1936. The mill was bought by Essex County Council in 1945 and although preserved, by 1977 it was without the fantail and associated supporting timbers. and down to only one pair of sails. Major repairs were started in 1991 by Vincent Pargeter. A grant from English Heritage part-funded the work. The Friends of Stock Mill were formed in 1993 on completion of the restoration.cite web|url=http://www.stock.org.uk/articles/mill/mill1.htm |title=Stock Tower Mill |publisher=Stock.org |accessdate=2008-08-12]

Description

"Stock Windmill" is a five storey tower mill with four single Patent sails It has a boat shaped cap winded by a six bladed fantail. The tower is convert|20|ft|6|in|m|2 internal diameter at ground level and convert|12|ft|6|in|m|2 internal diameter at curb level. The walls are convert|22|in|mm thick to first floor level and convert|18|in|mm thick above that. The tower is convert|40|ft|m|2 high overall and the mill is convert|52|ft|m|2 to the top of the cap.cite book | first = Kenneth| last = Farries| year = 1982| month = | title = Essex Windmills, Millers and Millwrights - Volume Two – A Technical Review | pages p71-75| publisher - Charles Skilton| location = London & Edinburgh| id = ISBN 0 284 98637 2]

As built, the mill had a stage at first floor level, four Common sails and was winded by hand. It originally drove two pairs of overdrift millstones.

The cast iron windshaft was probably not made for the mill originally. It carries a convert|9|ft|4|in|m|2 diameter composite brake wheel with 81 cogs which has been converted from clasp arm construction. This drives a cast iron wallower with 25 teeth. The cast iron upright shaft is convert|5|in|mm diameter and in three parts, with dog clutches at the fourth and fifth floor. The cast iron great spur wheel is convert|5|ft|m|2 diameter with 76 cogs. It drove three pairs of underdrift millstones of convert|5|ft|m|2, convert|4|ft|7|in|m|2 and convert|4|ft|m|2 diameter.

Millers

*William Moss Sr 1816 –
*William (Jr) & John Moss – 1838
*William Moss Jr – 1853
*John Pertwee 1863 – 1866
*Joseph Clover 1870 – 1890
*Mary Clover 1894 – 1898
*William Mayes 1902 – 1917
*Frank Semmens 1926 – 1929

References for above:-

Public access

"Stock Windmill" is open on the second Sunday of the month between April and September.

External links

* [http://www.windmillworld.com/millid/2691.htm Windmill World] webpage on Stock Mill

References