Stanford Windmill

Stanford Windmill is a Grade II* listed^[1] tower mill in Stanford, Kent, England that was built in 1857. It stands on Kennett Lane in Stanford.

Stanford Windmill
Origin
Mill location	TR 128 378
Coordinates	51°6′1″N 1°2′17″E
Year built	1857
Information
Purpose	Corn mill
Type	Tower mill
Storeys	Five storeys
No. of sails	Four
Type of sails	Patent sails
Windshaft	Cast iron
Winding	Fantail
Fantail blades	Eight blades
Auxiliary power	Paraffin engine Oil engine 1936 - Electric motor - 1969
No. of pairs of millstones	Four pairs

History

Stanford mill was built in 1857 by the Ashford millwright John Hill. The tower of the mill was cracked when a bomb was dropped nearby during World War I. A single cylinder paraffin engine was fitted between the wars.^[2] This was replaced by a Ruston & Hornsby engine in 1936.^[3] The mill had a new pair of sails in 1925, 1930^[2] and 1936. It worked by wind until 1946, in which year the shutters were removed from the sails.^[3] The sails and cap roof were removed in 1961,^[4] and a corrugated asbestos roof built on the cap frame. Milling continued by engine until 1969, with the paraffin engine being replaced by an electric motor. Some of the milling furniture was used in the restoration of Draper's Mill, Margate in the 1970s.^[3]

Description

For a description of the machinery, see Mill machinery.

Stanford mill is a five-storey tower mill which formerly had a Kentish-type cap. It had four patent sails carried on a cast-iron windshaft. The mill was winded by a fantail and there was a stage at first-floor level. The mill drove four pairs of millstones, two steel mills and two roller mills.^[2] The brake wheel is a composite one, with iron arms and a wooden rim. This drives a cast-iron wallower. The great spur wheel is also of cast iron. The mill drives to the millstones is overdrift.^[3]

Millers

• J Fox 1862
• Thomas Rolfe 1878
• Henry Taylor 1913–1929
• G R Holt 1929–1946
• H Beresford Lye 1946–1959
• M Hancock & Son 1959–1969

References for above:-^[2][3][5]