Copton Pumping Windmill

Copton Windmill
Map
Origin
Grid referenceTR 014 596
Coordinates51°17′58″N 0°53′10″E / 51.29944°N 0.88611°E / 51.29944; 0.88611
Operator(s)Faversham Water Company
Year built1863
Information
PurposeWater pumping
TypeTower mill
StoreysThree storeys
No. of sailsFour
Type of sailsPatent sails
WindshaftCast iron
WindingFantail
Fantail bladesSix blades
Type of pumpPlunger

Copton Mill is a tower mill in Copton, Faversham, Kent, England that was built in 1863[1] to pump water for Faversham Water Company's waterworks.[2] It is just south of junction 6 of the M2 motorway.

History

Copton Mill was built by the millwrights Spray and Harmer in 1863.[1] The mill was marked on the 1858–72 and 1903–10 Ordnance Survey maps. It was worked by wind until 1930, when the cap and sails were removed and replaced with a 6,000 imperial gallons (27,000 L) water tank.[1]

Owners

Description

For a description of the machinery, see Mill machinery.

Copton Mill is a three-storey brick tower mill which formerly had a Kentish-style cap. It had four patent sails[2] 37 feet (11.28 m) long and 5 feet (1.52 m) wide[3] carried on a cast-iron windshaft. The mill was winded by a fantail. It was rated at 15 horsepower (11 kW) and could pump 10,000 imperial gallons (45,000 L) of water per hour.[2] An oil engine was used as auxiliary power.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c West, Jenny (1973). The Windmills of Kent. London: Charles Skilton Ltd. p. 91. ISBN 0-284-98534-1.
  2. ^ a b c Coles Finch, William (1933). Watermills and Windmills. London: C W Daniel Company. p. 203.
  3. ^ a b Bygone Kent. 3 (11). Rainham: Meresborough Books: 670–675. November 1981. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)