Oldland Windmill, Keymer

A wind-powered corn mill in the historic county of Sussex, England.

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Oldland post mill is a Grade II Listed mill built c1700. Originally an open trestle post mill, the single story roundhouse was added later. The first evidence of the roundhouse is shown on the carving on the main post by J Winchester, miller from 1839 – 1854. It has four spring sails and is turned to wind by a tailpole. The windshaft is cast iron and was cast by Boaz Medhurst, the Lewes millwright in 1873. Inside the mill are two pairs of millstones, one set in the head of the mill, the other in the tail.

Around 1870 a steam engine was installed beside the mill to provide auxiliary power. The mill worked commercially up to 1912 when it was driven by both wind and steam power. During the following years the mill fell into disrepair. The Sussex Archaeological Society acquired the mill in 1927 and in 1934 repairs were carried out by E Hole and Sons Millwrights from Burgess Hill.

In 1977 following an inspection by two millwrights, Vincent Pargeter and Edwin Hole, the mill was found close to collapsing. In 1979 the Hassocks Amenity Association leased the mill from the Sussex Archaeological Society and the following year, 1980 saw a period of volunteer-led restoration. The mill ground corn once again in 2008. Today the mill is looked after by The Oldland Mill Trust, a registered charity.

Millers known to have worked the mill are:

1828: Josh Beard

1839 – 1854: Joseph Winchester and William Winchester

1899: J Turner

1899 – 1904: John White

1904 – 1912: David Driver

Website

Full details

Alternative names	Ditchling Mill, Oldland Mill
Power source	Wind
Mill type	Post mill
Mill function	Corn mill
Archive ID	2620
Location	Keymer
Historic county	Sussex
Country	England, United Kingdom
NGR	TQ 32118 16210
Latitude/longitude	50.92960400, -0.11958100

Location

Gallery

1934 exterior image of Oldland Windmill, with Sid SImmons' bicycle in the foreground on the right.
Postcard showing the sails of Oldland Windmill, as they were in 1940.
1953 exterior photograph of Oldland Windmill, taken by Stephen Buckland during a trip to Sussex.
Photograph showing Oldland Windmill from a view through the trees in Keymer, West Sussex. Photographed by Kenneth G. Farries, 1958
Lantern slide showing a cross section drawing of the post mill - date not known.
Interior image taken in 1932, showing the cogwheel and wedge inside Oldland Windmill.
Photograph taken inside Oldland Windmill. Frank Gregory is examining rot in crowntree. Date unknown.
Interior photograph of Oldland Windmill, showing the bin floor and sack hoist.
Interior image of Oldland Windmill, with detail of the sack hoist drive - date unknown.
Photo: Mark Berry
Photo: Mark Berry
Photo: Sara and Oscar Jarman
Photo: Sara and Oscar Jarman
Photo: Sara and Oscar Jarman
Photo: Sara & Oscar Jarman
Photo: Sara & Oscar Jarman
Photo: Sara & Oscar Jarman
Photo: Sara & Oscar Jarman
Photo: Sara & Oscar Jarman
Photo: Sara & Oscar Jarman
Photo: Sara & Oscar Jarman
Photo: Sara & Oscar Jarman
Photo: Sara & Oscar Jarman
Photo: Sara & Oscar Jarman
Photo: Sara & Oscar Jarman