Black Mill, Barham

Infobox Windmill
name = Black Mill, Barham


caption = The mill when a working mill
name_of_mill = Black Mill
Barham Downs Mill
location_of_mill = TR 214 510
Coord|51.215|1.169|display=inline|format=dms
operator =
built = 1834
purpose = Corn mill
type = Smock mill
storeys = Three storey smock
base_storeys = Two storey base
roundhouse_storeys =
smock_sides = Eight sided
sail_number = Four
sail_type = Patent sails
windshaft = cast iron
winding = Fantail
fantail_blades = Six blades
auxpower =
pairs_of_millstones= Four pairs
stone_size =
saw_type =
pump_type =
scoop_dia =
lost = 1970
other = Burnt down whilst under restoration.

Black Mill or Barham Downs Mill was a smock mill at Barham, Kent, England which was accidentally burnt down in 1970 whilst under restoration.

History

"Black Mill" was the third mill on the site. There was a mill on Barham Down in the thirteenth century.cite web | url = http://www.barham-kent.org.uk/chronology-13thC.htm| publisher = Barham village website| title = Barham - 13th Century| accessdate = 2008-04-13] A mill was marked on Philip Symonson's map of 1596, John Speed's map of 1611, Robert Morden's map of 1695 and E Bowen's map of 1736. This mill was originally a little lower down the hill, and was moved to a new position higher up.cite book | first = William| last = Coles Finch| year = 1933| title = Watermills and Windmills| pages = p157| publisher = C W Daniel Company| location = London]

The second mill was marked on the 1819-43 Ordnance Survey map.

The "Black Mill" was built by John Holman, the Canterbury millwright in 1834. She was worked for many years by H S Pedge, then R Walter for over 50 years, and after that by T Denne and Sons. The mill was struck by lightning on 17 June 1878 and lost a sail. Over £150 had to be spent to repair the mill. The last owner, Mr E Mannering, fitted the fantail from Willesborough windmill in 1946,cite book | first = Jenny| last = West| year = 1973| title = The Windmills of Kent| pages = p80-83| publisher = Charles Skilton Ltd.| location = London| id = SBN 284-98534-1] and restored the mill in 1956. He was awarded a Windmill Certificate by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings for his efforts. The work was done by Holman's of Canterbury, the last millwrighting they did before the firm stopped doing millwrighting work.cite book | first = Jenny| last = West| year = 1973| title = The Windmills of Kent| pages = p94, 111| publisher = Charles Skilton Ltd.| location = London| id = SBN 284-98534-1] Kent County Council contributed £400 towards the restoration work.cite web | url = http://www.millsarchive.com/aspx/secured/item.aspx?intItemID=21163&strTitle=Kent%20County%20Council%20Windmill%20Aid| publisher = The Mills Archive| title = Kent County Council Windmill Aid| accessdate = 2008-04-13 (original source Milling, 3 March 1956)] The work included the replacement of two sails that had been blown off in a storm on 13 March 1951.cite web | url = http://www.millsarchive.com/aspx/secured/item.aspx?intItemID=21167&strTitle=The%20Barham%20Windmill| publisher = The Mills Archive| title = The Barham Windmill| accessdate = 2008-04-13 (original source Milling, 24 March 1951)] cite web | url = http://www.millsarchive.com/aspx/secured/item.aspx?intItemID=22925&strTitle=Kent%20Messenger%20article| publisher = The Mills Archive| title = Kent Messenger article| accessdate = 2008-04-13 (original source Kent Messenger, 6 July 1956)] The mill featured in the 1955 film "Raising a Riot" starring Kenneth More.cite web | url = http://www.barham-kent.org.uk/Black%20Mill.htm| publisher = Barham Village website| title = The Missing Landmark| accessdate = 2008-04-21] The mill was purchased by Kent County Council in the late 1960s and burnt down on 3 March 1970 when a spark from a bonfire set light to the mill. A new stage had been prepared for the restored mill, and this was donated to Draper's Windmill, Margate and erected there by Vincent Pargeter.cite web | url = http://www.millsarchive.com/Kent/millwrightstale/millwrightstale.aspx| publisher = The Mills Archive| title = A MILLWRIGHT'S TALE| accessdate = 2008-04-19]

Description

"Black Mill" was a four storey smock mill mounted on a single storey brick base. It had four single patent sails mounted on a cast iron windshaft and was winded by a fantail. The mill drove four pairs of millstones.

Millers

*E Lawrence, miller in 1845
*Henry Sturgess Pledge, miller in 1850, later working the Wind, Steam and Water mill at Kennington.
*Richard Walter
*T Denne and Sons Ltd, millers in 1933, still in business at Hanover Mill, Mersham.
*W Mannering

References

External links

* [http://www.windmillworld.com/millid/2771.htm Windmill World page] on the mill.