Author: Sussex Miller
Paul Barber reports that the efforts taken by the Jack and Jill Windmills Society in replacing a stock on Jill windmill in 2007 are justified by the recent damage to Jack windmill.
In late October the inner stock on Jack split and the upper sweep fell to the ground. This stock was fitted by millwrights E. Hole & Sons in the early 1970s for the mill’s appearance in the film ‘The Black Windmill’. The outer stock only dates from 1983 as this was replaced after damage by lightning.
Jack currently has a rather forlorn appearance next to his well preserved partner.
UPDATE : There was concern that the falling sweep and stock could have landed on the roundhouse of Duncton Windmill as this is positioned directly below Jack’s sweeps. Surrounding trees hide Duncton from the view to those located outside the property.
A site inspection by Simon Potter revealed that the falling stock and sweep missed Duncton, missed a greenhouse, missed electricity cables and missed Jack’s tower. The only visible damage was a broken tree, some guttering on Duncton and very minor damage to Duncton’s roof caused by gutter sections being ripped off.
Had the falling timbers landed a couple of feet in either direction, there could have been substantial damage.
Amazing!