Holgate Windmill
Encyclopedia
Holgate Windmill is a tower mill
at Holgate
in York
, North Yorkshire
, England which is under restoration.
although these were later replaced by Double Patent sails. In 1841, the mill was described as having three pairs of French Burr millstones, two dressing machines and five Patent sails. A fourth pair of stones had been added by 1858.
In 1859 a new granary was built, and a steam engine installed to make the mill more profitable. An extra floor was also built to raise the mill to its present height.
In 1930, a large electric motor was installed to replace the steam engine, chimney and boiler house, which were pulled down. After some storm damage (sails backwinded), the mill had to stop grinding under wind power, and the City Council had the sails and the fantail
removed. Milling with the electric motor ceased entirely in 1933. In 1939, a new white-painted cap was built onto the milltower. The mill's last known miller was Thomas Mollet; Eliza Gutch
was the last known owner of the mill.
The mill was given Grade II listed building status in 1954. In 1955 further cap repairs were made, and its five stocks (whips, sailbacks) were removed in 1956.
In 2001 the Holgate Preservation Society was formed, and the mill's doors were opened to the public in 2005 for the first time after 70 years. Planning for the restoration of the mill began in 2003, and the restoration started in 2006. Scaffolding was erected around the mill to remove the external black paint and render. Electricity supply was installed, and new oak doors and windows were built in. A new lime render
was applied to the outer walls. In autumn 2006, the old cap with shears, brake wheel and iron cross was removed by crane, along with the old curb ring which carried the cap. The iron ring was broken and the supporting wooden frame was rotten. In 2007, most of the external renovation works were completed, a newly manufactured curb ring was lifted in, the scaffolding was removed, and the mill's open top was sealed against rain.
A new white cap with ball finial
, brake wheel, windshaft
, shears and fivefold iron cross including the fantail rack was craned onto the mill on 28 November 2009.
. There were five Double Patent sails carried on a cast iron windshaft and mounted on a cross in the Lincolnshire style (Lincolnshire cross). The mill drove four pairs of millstone
s, three pairs of French Burrs and one pair of Peaks
.
Reference for above:-
Tower mill
A tower mill is a type of windmill which consists of a brick or stone tower, on top of which sits a roof or cap which can be turned to bring the sails into the wind....
at Holgate
Holgate, North Yorkshire
Holgate is a suburb and Unitary Authority Ward in the City of York. It is bounded by the River Ouse from Scarbourough Bridge to Ouse Acres on its northern boundary. Its western boundary is formed by one side of Carr Lane and Ouse Acres to the junction of York Road/Acomb Road, which forms part of...
in York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England which is under restoration.
History
Holgate tower windmill was built in 1770 of brickstones by its first owner and miller George Waud. He, his son and grandson ran the mill until 1851, and a dwelling-house was erected around the same time. The mill was originally fitted with five Roller Reefing sailsWindmill sail
Windmills are powered by their sails. Sails are found in different designs, from primitive common sails to the advanced patent sails.-Jib sails:...
although these were later replaced by Double Patent sails. In 1841, the mill was described as having three pairs of French Burr millstones, two dressing machines and five Patent sails. A fourth pair of stones had been added by 1858.
In 1859 a new granary was built, and a steam engine installed to make the mill more profitable. An extra floor was also built to raise the mill to its present height.
In 1930, a large electric motor was installed to replace the steam engine, chimney and boiler house, which were pulled down. After some storm damage (sails backwinded), the mill had to stop grinding under wind power, and the City Council had the sails and the fantail
Windmill fantail
A Fantail is a small windmill mounted at right angles to the sails, at the rear of the windmill, and which turns the cap automatically to bring it into the wind. The fantail was patented in 1745 by Edmund Lee, a blacksmith working at Brockmill Forge near Wigan, England, and perfected on mills...
removed. Milling with the electric motor ceased entirely in 1933. In 1939, a new white-painted cap was built onto the milltower. The mill's last known miller was Thomas Mollet; Eliza Gutch
Eliza Gutch
Eliza Gutch was an author and contributor to Notes and Queries. It was from her suggestion that the Folklore Society was formed, with Gutch as a founder member...
was the last known owner of the mill.
The mill was given Grade II listed building status in 1954. In 1955 further cap repairs were made, and its five stocks (whips, sailbacks) were removed in 1956.
In 2001 the Holgate Preservation Society was formed, and the mill's doors were opened to the public in 2005 for the first time after 70 years. Planning for the restoration of the mill began in 2003, and the restoration started in 2006. Scaffolding was erected around the mill to remove the external black paint and render. Electricity supply was installed, and new oak doors and windows were built in. A new lime render
Lime Render
Lime render is a lime-based cementitious mix applied to the external surfaces of traditionally-built stone buildings. It allows the building to 'breathe' - as lime is porous, it allows for the collection and evaporation of moisture...
was applied to the outer walls. In autumn 2006, the old cap with shears, brake wheel and iron cross was removed by crane, along with the old curb ring which carried the cap. The iron ring was broken and the supporting wooden frame was rotten. In 2007, most of the external renovation works were completed, a newly manufactured curb ring was lifted in, the scaffolding was removed, and the mill's open top was sealed against rain.
A new white cap with ball finial
Finial
The finial is an architectural device, typically carved in stone and employed decoratively to emphasize the apex of a gable or any of various distinctive ornaments at the top, end, or corner of a building or structure. Smaller finials can be used as a decorative ornament on the ends of curtain rods...
, brake wheel, windshaft
Windshaft
The windshaft is a part in a wind mill that carries the sails and also the brake wheel or the head wheel and tail wheel in a Post Mill. Windshafts can be wholly made of wood, or wood with a cast iron poll end or entirely of cast iron....
, shears and fivefold iron cross including the fantail rack was craned onto the mill on 28 November 2009.
Description
Holgate Mill is a five storey tower mill including ground storey. The storeys are: ground floor, stone floor, bin floor, hoist floor, and cap or dust floor. The mill originally had got a black ogee cap, since 1939 a white cap which was winded by a fantailWindmill fantail
A Fantail is a small windmill mounted at right angles to the sails, at the rear of the windmill, and which turns the cap automatically to bring it into the wind. The fantail was patented in 1745 by Edmund Lee, a blacksmith working at Brockmill Forge near Wigan, England, and perfected on mills...
. There were five Double Patent sails carried on a cast iron windshaft and mounted on a cross in the Lincolnshire style (Lincolnshire cross). The mill drove four pairs of millstone
Millstone
Millstones or mill stones are used in windmills and watermills, including tide mills, for grinding wheat or other grains.The type of stone most suitable for making millstones is a siliceous rock called burrstone , an open-textured, porous but tough, fine-grained sandstone, or a silicified,...
s, three pairs of French Burrs and one pair of Peaks
Millstone Grit
Millstone Grit is the name given to any of a number of coarse-grained sandstones of Carboniferous age which occur in the Northern England. The name derives from its use in earlier times as a source of millstones for use principally in watermills...
.
Millers
- George Waud 1770–92
- George Waud Jr 1792–1811
- George Waud grandson 1811-1851 (John Musham mortgagee from 1841, then mill owner from 1851)
- John Thackwray 1851–55 (Joseph Peart mill owner from 1855)
- George & Joseph Chapman (brothers) 1858–60
- William Bean Horseman 1860–66
- Joseph Chapman 1866–1896
- Charles Chapman (son of Joseph) 1896-1902
- Herbert Warters 1902–22 (Gutch family owners from approx 1902)
- Thomas Mollett 1922–33
Reference for above:-