|
Findon Windmill. Sketch by Valerie Martin in 1997 of how the windmill may have appeared on the Findon Downs. |
THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.
|
Findon Windmill. Sketch by Valerie Martin in 1997 of how the windmill may have appeared on the Findon Downs. |
THE FIRST FINDON MILLER
Copyright Valerie Martin 1997.
Text first published in the West Sussex Gazette 2nd January 1997
With a shake of the hand and the stroke of a quill just before Christmas on 22nd December 1823 I have uncovered that the new owner enthusiastically took over Findon Windmill. The mill started its working life in the New Year of 1824. Passing mice foraging for food probably squeezed with some agility between the boards and took up residence in the new property. As this was a flourmill with a stable and a cart shed, undoubtedly a horse with shiny harness was also in residence. The cart would be used for making local deliveries loaded with heavy sacks.
|
Sketch to give some idea of how the Findon windmill worked in its heyday. |
I believe that the miller lived in a very small purpose built flint cottage basking in the sun within the flint walls encompassing the site. This small property is today incorporated within the current Mill House.
The front entrance of the original snug residence had an arched door to a short passage leading to the backdoor with an identical archway. On the right-hand side of the passage was a small living room for the family; a somewhat steep staircase led up to a bedchamber, and to the left were steps down to a cellar. A chute ran from the outside to this underground room, where it can be assumed that grain was poured into the cellar. An alcove housed an oven — the dimensions of the archway being those exactly of the front and backdoor measurements. This indicates it was built at the same time as the house. From this cellar, the miller had access through a narrow door to an unusual flint lined tunnel to the open air and a flight of stone steps up to the roundhouse of the Mill.
Rain was the only water supply high on the Downs and this was stored in a sump/well and provided the household water.
At the time, this was the extent of the structure of the Mill House, the remainder of the property was added at later dates. The household was, no doubt, self-sufficient and relied on passing trade; ambling tramps and wayfarers for local gossip and news from further afield.
Continue if you would like to read In The Footsteps of the First Findon Miller.
THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — was launched by Valerie Martin in January 1999 and will grow to be a historical record of life in Findon, West Sussex, U.K.
|
E-mail: valeriemartin@findonvillage.com |
Back to Windmill Index