Ringle Crouch Green Mill, Sandhurst

Infobox Windmill
name = Ringle Crouch Green Mill, Sandhurst


caption = The mill c.1892
name_of_mill =
location_of_mill = TQ 805 283
Coord|51.026|0.572|display=inline|format=dms
operator =
built = 1844
purpose = Corn mill
type = Smock mill
storeys = Four storey smock
base_storeys = Two storey base
roundhouse_storeys =
smock_sides = Eight sided
sail_number = Five
sail_type = Patent sails
windshaft = Cast iron, with Lincolnshire cross
winding = Fantail
fantail_blades = Eight blades
auxpower =
pairs_of_millstones= Four pairs
stone_size =
saw_type =
pump_type =
scoop_dia =
lost = 1944
other = New smock tower built in 1997, replica mill generates electricity.

Ringle Crouch Green Mill is a smock mill in Sandhurst, Kent, England that was demolished to base level in 1945, and now has a new smock tower built on it as residential accommodation and an electricity generator.

History

"Ringle Crouch Green Mill" was built in 1844 by William Warren, the Hawkhurst millwright to replace a post mill which had stood at Boxhurst Farm that was blown down in 1842. It was the only corn mill built in Kent with five sails.There was another five-sail mill at Margate, but that was a pumping mill] The mill was built for James Collins, who ran the mill until his death. His son Edward then took the mill and ran it until his death in 1911. The mill was run for a short time by Edward Collins' sons Edward and Harry, then by C J Bannister, who also had a mill at Northiam, for about a year until the mill ceased working in 1912.cite book | first = William| last = Coles Finch| year = 1933| title = Watermills and Windmills| pages = p269-71| publisher = C W Daniel Company| location = London]

A sail blew off, and the mill quickly became derelict. The fantail and shutters were taken down, and in 1926 the stage was taken down. An iron windpump was erected alongside the mill, and three water tanks were installed in the mill to supply nearby cottages and cowsheds. The smock was demolished in 1945cite web| url= http://viewfinder.english-heritage.org.uk/search/detail.aspx?uid=16690| publisher = English Heritage| title = Ringle Crouch Windmill, Sandhurst, Kent| accessdate= 2008-04-22] The base was left standing and used as a Scout hut for a time.cite web| url= http://www.heritage-windpower.co.uk/| publisher = Heritage Windpower| title = History of the Windmill | accessdate= 2008-04-22]

In 1997, planning permission was applied for, and granted, to build a replica mill on the existing mill base, with the tower being used as living accommodation and a wind turbine for generating electricity. The new building was to replicate the former windmill, with five sails like the original mill had.cite web| url= http://www.heritage-windpower.co.uk/| publisher = Heritage Windpower| title = Reconstruction of the Windmill| accessdate= 2008-04-22]

Description

s.

The reconstructed mill has a four storey smock on the original two storey mill base, with the cap of a different design to the original, and lacking a fantail. The sails are convert|12.5|m|ft long each. The generator is rated at about convert|20|kW|hp capacity.cite web| url= http://www.roughwood.net/PhotoAlbum/2005%20Album/SandhurstWindmill2005.htm| publisher = Roughwood| title = 27th July 2005 - Sandhurst Windmill| accessdate= 2008-04-22]

Millers

*James Collins 1844 -
*Edward Collins Sr. - 1911
*Edward & Harry Collins 1911
*C J Bannister 1911 - 1912

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/2708.htm Windmill World page] on the mill.