Smock mill

Smock mill

The smock mill is a type of windmill that consists of a sloping, horizontally weatherboarded tower, usually with six or eight sides, on top of which is a roof or cap, which can rotate to bring the sails into the wind. This type of windmill got its name from its supposed resemblance to the smock worn by farmers in earlier days.

Smock mills differ from tower mills in that the latter were usually cylindrical rather than hexagonal or octagonal, and built from brick, stone or masonry instead of timber. The majority of smock mills are octagonal in plan, with a lesser number hexagonal in plan, such as Killick's Mill, Meopham. A very small number of smock mills were decagonal on dodecagonal in plan, an example of the latter being at [http://www.geocities.com/wickenmill/ Wicken] , Cambridgeshire.

Smock mills exist in Western Europe and particularly in England, where they were common, particularly in the county of Kent, where the tallest surviving smock mill in the United Kingdom can be found. They reached their heyday in the earlier part of the 19th century, after which the advent of steam power started the decline of the windmill.

An example of a standing smock mill is Willesborough in Ashford, Kent.

Designed by the civil engineer John Smeaton, Chimney Mill in Spital Tongues, Newcastle upon Tyne was the first five-sailed smock mill in Britain and the only surviving smock mill in the North East region. However, the sails and original cap are no longer in place.


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  • Smock mill — Smock Smock, a. Of or pertaining to a smock; resembling a smock; hence, of or pertaining to a woman. [1913 Webster] {Smock mill}, a windmill of which only the cap turns round to meet the wind, in distinction from a post mill, whose whole building …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • smock mill — noun or smock windmill Etymology: so called from the fancied resemblance of its shape to a person dressed in a smock : a windmill whose cap alone turns round to meet the wind * * * a windmill with sails and shaft carried by a cap rotating on an… …   Useful english dictionary

  • smock mill — a windmill with sails and shaft carried by a cap rotating on an octagonal tower. [1795 1805] * * * …   Universalium

  • smock-mill — …   Useful english dictionary

  • Smock — Smock, a. Of or pertaining to a smock; resembling a smock; hence, of or pertaining to a woman. [1913 Webster] {Smock mill}, a windmill of which only the cap turns round to meet the wind, in distinction from a post mill, whose whole building turns …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Smock race — Smock Smock, a. Of or pertaining to a smock; resembling a smock; hence, of or pertaining to a woman. [1913 Webster] {Smock mill}, a windmill of which only the cap turns round to meet the wind, in distinction from a post mill, whose whole building …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Smock — may refer to one of the following: * Smock frock A coatlike outer garment, often worn to protect the clothes * Smocking is an embroidery technique in which the fabric is gathered with thread or embroidery floss, then embroidered with decorative… …   Wikipedia

  • Mill machinery — This article covers the various major pieces of mill machinery to be found in windmills, watermills and horse mills. It does not cover machinery found in modern factories.[1][2] Contents 1 Watermill machinery 2 Windmill mac …   Wikipedia

  • smock windmill — noun see smock mill …   Useful english dictionary

  • Union Mill, Cranbrook — The mill with traditional sails restored Origin Mill location Russells Yard, Cranbrook, Kent …   Wikipedia

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