Bidborough Windmill

Infobox Windmill
name = Bidborough Windmill


caption = Bidborough Windmill, June 2006
name_of_mill =
location_of_mill = TQ 562 435
Coord|51.169|0.233|display=inline|format=dms
operator =
built = 1858
purpose = Corn mill
type = Tower mill
storeys = Four storeys
base_storeys =
roundhouse_storeys =
smock_sides =
sail_number = Four
sail_type = Patent sails
windshaft = Cast iron
winding = Fantail
fantail_blades = Six blades
auxpower = External engine
pairs_of_millstones=
stone_size =
saw_type =
pump_type =
scoop_dia =
lost =
other =

Bidborough Mill is a Grade II listed, house converted tower mill in Bidborough, Kent, England.

History

"Bidborough Mill" may be an eighteenth century tower mill, or an 1858 replacement for an earlier mill.cite web| url= http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?pid=2&id=430590| publisher = English Heritage| title = FOUR WINDS WINDMILL, PENSHURST ROAD (south side), BIDBOROUGH, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT| accessdate= 2008-04-14] Parish records from 1759, 1763 and 1765 mention the purchase of flour for the relief of the poor.cite book | first = Jenny| last = West| year = 1973| title = The Windmills of Kent| pages = p27-28| publisher = Charles Skilton Ltd.| location = London| id = SBN 284-98534-1] A mill was marked on Andrews, Drury and Herbert's map of 1769. The date of the building of Bidborough Mill is unknown for certain (see above). In the 1890s, the mill was being worked in conjunction with a watermill at Speldhurst. The mill had four patent sails.Postcard published by W E Nash, Bidborough, titled "The Mill, Bidborough, Kent", ref number 38. Printer H Camburn, Tunbridge Wells.] The mill was struck by lightning c.1900 and lost two sails. This was the end of the mill's working life and the other two sails were removed a few years later. There was a proposal to erect an iron windpump on the mill in the 1930s but this was not carried out.cite book | first = William| last = Coles Finch| year = 1933| title = Watermills and Windmills| pages = p163-64| publisher = C W Daniel Company| location = London] In 1942, the cap roof and windshaft were blown off the mill. A replacement cap was made in 1949, but later replaced with a flat roof. The mill was house converted in 2006 and a replica cap was made and fitted on 1 May 2006.cite web| url= http://www.windmillworld.com/news/archive22.htm| publisher = Windmill World| title = New cap for the tower of Bidborough windmill| accessdate= 2008-04-14]

Description

Bidborough Mill is a four storey brick tower mill, partly rendered with cement. It had a Kentish style cap, four single patent sails and was winded by a fantail. The millstones were driven underdrift. A large pulley on the outside of the mill at first floor level allowed the mill to be driven by belt from a traction engine or tractor, via a gear bolted to the underside of the Great Spur Wheel. A wheat cleaner and a flour dresser remained in the mill before conversion.

Millers

*William Weaver 1759 - 1765
*Nicholas Arnold 1839 - 1845
*T Arnold 1851 - 1867
*William Reeves 1870
*G W Young 1874
*George Wood 1878
*Albert Oliver 1890 - 1891
*Oliver & Morris 1895
*Joseph Tabraham 1899

References for above.cite web | url = http://www.millsarchive.com/docs/html/23444.rtf| publisher = The Mills Archive Trust| title = THE MILLS ARCHIVE - MILL PROFILE, Bidborough Mill| accessdate = 2008-04-14 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.windmillworld.com/millid/2657.htm Windmill World page] on the mill.