The Middy July 9 1996

Exploring windmills

Walking through Sussex on a windswept day in 1823 it was possible to see 190 windmills in full working order.

Today, there are less than a dozen still working, cared for in the main by dedicated volunteers.

Gradually, as the industrial revolution to cold, steam power replaced wind power and the number of working mills declined.

Here in Mid Sussex, we are fortunate to have some of the finest windmills in the whole of the county with Jack and Jill on the Downs at Clayton at the top of the list.

Jack, a black tower mill with white cap and fantail, was built in 1866 to replace Duncton Mill, built in 1765 and leased for 99 years by Viscount Montague to Edward Oram of Clayton.

The well-known writer and golfing correspondent Henry Longhurst built a modern home next to Jack in 1961. In 1973, a new set of basic sweeps was made for Jack when he was used as a setting for the film ‘The Black Windmill’.

The white post-mill Jill is much older than her brother. She began life in 1821 as one of three post-mills near Dyke Road in Brighton. Originally she was known as Lashmer’s New Mill and stood on a site above Belmont Railway tunnel.

In a huge logistical operation, she was moved to Clayton sometime between 1850 and 1853. Hauling her up onto the Downs must have been a sight to behold. She was placed on a trolley and pulled by horses and oxen supplied by local farmers. We know that a similar mill to Jill, removed from Regency Square in Brighton to a site above Preston Village in 1792, was pulled by no fewer than 86 oxen.

More pulling power was probably required to haul Jill onto her elevated position on the Downs.

After work stopped at Jill in 1907 she was allowed to deteriorate. But thanks to a team of willing volunteers she is now fully restored and open to the public on certain days of the year.

Two other mills of note are Oldland’s Mill in Keymer and Shipley Mill near Cowfold. Several mills probably stood on the site of Oldland Mill which lies off Mill Lane between Ditchling and Keymer. Records show a mill on the site as early as 1755. David Turner was the last person to work the will, which ceased production in 1912. A project to restore the mill is continuing.

The white smoke mill at Shipley was owned for a time by the poet and writer Hilaire Belloc. After he died in 1953 a fund was established to restore the mill which stands on a gentle rise close to the river Adur.

Wind was often in short supply because the mill is relatively low lying position. To overcome the problem, steam driven machinery was installed and the mill continued working up until 1926.

The mill today is fully restored and plans are afoot to install new steam driven machinery with a grant from English Heritage.

The popular television series Jonathan Creek was filmed at the mill, which was turned into a comfy home for the leading character of the production, an ace detective and magician.

Volunteers at the mill are hoping that another series of the popular BBC TV production will be filmed there in the coming months – bringing in much needed revenue for the upkeep of the largest remaining working Windmill in Sussex.

Thanks to the Mills Archives for the images

For more on windmills in Mid Sussex please follow the link.... https://www.cuckfieldconnections.org.uk/post/the-five-windmills-in-the-cuckfield-area