Mill name Beacon Mill
New Mill Purpose Corn mill Storeys Three-storey smock Windshaft Cast iron | Mill location TQ 366 025 Type Smock mill Year built 1802 | |
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Operator(s) Rottingdean Preservation Society Similar West Blatchington Windmill, Percy and Wagner Almshouses, Anthaeum - Hove, Ovenden's Mill - Polegate, Adelaide Mansions | ||
Beacon mill rottingdean
Beacon Mill or New Mill is a grade II listed smock mill at Rottingdean, Sussex, England which has been restored as a seamark.
Contents
History
Beacon Mill, was built in 1802. There are records of an earlier mill on the site, thought to have been a post mill. During the digging of the foundations, a human skeleton was found. The mill was working until 1881 and by 1890 was in such bad condition that demolition was considered. In 1905, the Marquis of Abergavenny had the mill repaired, but she was derelict again by the early 1920s. It was 1935 before she was restored again, the millwrighting being done by Neve's of Heathfield and new sails were made by Holman's, the Canterbury millwrights. In 1969, the mill was leaning to the north east, and Hole's, the Burgess Hill millwrights erected a steel frame inside the smock to support the mill, and fitted new sails. The steel framing was extended into the cap in 1974
Description
Beacon Mill is a three-storey smock mill on a single-storey brick base. It has a Kentish-style cap, and four Patent sails. It originally had a fantail, but this is now missing.
Millers
References for above:-
Culture and Media
Beacon Mill featured on the front cover of the album "Vale Industrial" by Brighton band The Tenderfoot
The mill also featured in the music video for That Old Pair of Jeans by Fatboy Slim.
Public access
Beacon Mill is open to the public from 14:00 to 16:30 on both days of National Mills Weekend, and on the third Sunday of each month from May to September.