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Windmills work by harnessing the power of the wind into
turning its sails which by a series of cogs tuned a grinding
wheel to grind corn. They were a great advantage to inland
communities without access to water in the required quantity
to drive a watermill.
Farmers
appreciated having a windmill in their locality as transport
for corn was horse drawn or by Thames barge. In either case
much time, effort and expense was incurred taking corn to a
distant mill
Often the
miller fulfilled several functions in the Parish with common
second jobs as a farmer or a baker
The first recorded
windmills in Essex were erected in 1202 but
they were not used in this area until 1291 when a windmill
at Bradwell on Sea was recorded.
By the 1600's they
were in common use with windmills in operation throughout
the area harnessing the wind from the sea on a very flat
landscape.
To maximise the wind
effect often a small mound was built and the windmill
erected on top of the mound. A few of these mounds have
survived the loss of the windmill.
In 1617 Matthew
Driver was a miller at Woodham Walter.
Windmills seem to
have suffered badly from wind and fire damage. In some cases
several windmills have stood on the same site
Below is a listing of windmills
that stood in this area
with the name of a miller listed in the trade directory for 1863.
|
Parish
|
Comments
|
Miller in
1863
|
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Althorne
|
North of
Elm Farm
|
Not listed
|
|
Asheldham
|
Millfield
- South west of Parish Church - Known in 1678 but
nothing recorded after that date.
|
Not listed
|
|
Bradwell
on Sea
|
1. Curry
Mill -A series of mills stood on this site from 1300
.The last and best known mill was blown down in 1791
killing a miller called William Peak and injuring
another.
|
|
|
2. East
End Road - Built in 1791 near the Church after the
disaster at Curry Mill. the mill was burnt down in
1900.
|
Thomas
Jackson
|
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Burnham on
Crouch
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1.
Pannells Mill -Dates from 1784 was demolished around
1900.
|
Daniel
Pannel
|
|
2. The
Town Mill - Dates from 1796. became disused in 1896
and was destroyed around 1900.
|
Elisha
Staggs
|
|
Dengie
|
Mill Marsh
|
Not listed
|
|
Hazeleigh
|
A post
Mill which stood in Danbury Road. Allowed to get
into a state of disrepair and was blown down in 1892
|
Thomas
Clarke
|
|
Latchingdon
|
1.
Bridgemarsh Island on the Brickfield site - Main use
is believed to have been drainage
|
Not listed
|
|
2. Lawling
Post Mill - West of Lawling Hall - At least two
windmills stood on this site
|
Not listed
|
|
Mayland
|
1. Tithe
|
Not listed
|
|
2. Hither
Mill Field - on Steeple boundary
|
Geo.
Cardnell
|
|
Purleigh
|
1. Ravens
Mill -On the East Side of Mil Lane at Cock Clarks.
Built in 1778 for Roger Cook and demolished in 1929
|
Charles
Raven
|
|
2.
Mecklenburgh's Mill - North Road - Cock Clarks
|
Thomas
Clarke
|
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3.
Purleigh Barns Farm
|
Not listed
|
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Southminster
|
1. West
Mill , Burnham Road - Built 1783 - Destroyed by fire
after being struck by lightning in 1895
|
Jonathan
Stacey Summers
|
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2. East
Mill , Cripplegate - built 1790 - Demolished in 1929
|
William
Smythe
|
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3.
Ratsborough Farm- In use in 1678 - Destroyed by fire
in 1781
|
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Tillingham
|
Mill Hill
|
|
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Woodham
Mortimer
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Two Dutch
Mills- Bicknacre Road built 1759 . One mill
disappears from records at about 1799 and the other
was demolished in 1895.
|
John
Dunningham
|
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Woodham
Walter
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Alongside
to the watermill at Blue Mill erected in the early
1800's. The windmill is not mentioned in use after
1866.
|
Joseph
Riley
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