Publications
The Windmills of Sussex, by Martin Brunnarius, published October 1979 (xii + 211 pp. & 32 leaves of plates, Chichester: Phillimore & Co. Ltd., ISBN-10: 0850333458 & ISBN-13: 9780850333459) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 7266] & The Keep [LIB/502208] & R.I.B.A. Library & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Review by F. W. Gregory in Sussex Industrial History, 1980:In the Windmills of Sussex by Martin Brunnarius, one of our members, we have the definitive work on the mills; with their millers and millwrights who constructed and maintained them, a book which many people have long awaited.
Mr. Brunnarius has put a vast amount of work into his researches and hopefully has avoided perpetrating popular errors which certain earlier writers put into print. He has made full use of the late H.E.S. Simmons' records gathered over 40 years (These are now in the Science Museum, but Brighton Reference Library has a copy of Sussex items) and in its way this volume is also a memorial to Mr. Simmons.
Martin Brunnarius tells us also of the mechanical side of the windmill, not previously attempted in a book on Sussex mills. This is helped with clear diagrams and good photographs.
There are just over 200 illustrations some showing mills well back in last century and unfortunately no longer with us and present day mill restoration is also featured.
The men who built the mills and the millers who ran them are dealt with at length, and we read of Sydney Ashdown who operated Cross-in-Hand Mill till 1969, Archibald Dallaway - a one man rebuild of Punnetts Town Mill, and the traditional millwrights including Cooper of Henfield, Holloway of Shoreham, Neves of Heathfield, the Medhursts of Lewes and E. Hole of Burgess Hill - still at work and at present engaged on Jill at Clayton.
An excellent book and a 'must' for all windmillians and those interested in local history.
Mr. Brunnarius has put a vast amount of work into his researches and hopefully has avoided perpetrating popular errors which certain earlier writers put into print. He has made full use of the late H.E.S. Simmons' records gathered over 40 years (These are now in the Science Museum, but Brighton Reference Library has a copy of Sussex items) and in its way this volume is also a memorial to Mr. Simmons.
Martin Brunnarius tells us also of the mechanical side of the windmill, not previously attempted in a book on Sussex mills. This is helped with clear diagrams and good photographs.
There are just over 200 illustrations some showing mills well back in last century and unfortunately no longer with us and present day mill restoration is also featured.
The men who built the mills and the millers who ran them are dealt with at length, and we read of Sydney Ashdown who operated Cross-in-Hand Mill till 1969, Archibald Dallaway - a one man rebuild of Punnetts Town Mill, and the traditional millwrights including Cooper of Henfield, Holloway of Shoreham, Neves of Heathfield, the Medhursts of Lewes and E. Hole of Burgess Hill - still at work and at present engaged on Jill at Clayton.
An excellent book and a 'must' for all windmillians and those interested in local history.
Clayton Windmills (Jack and Jill). I - History, by M. Brunnarius, published 1980 in Sussex Industrial History (No. 10, article, pp.8-18) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506525] Download PDF
Abstract:Three windmills are known to have stood on the rising down above Clayton Village: the original Duncton post mill, Jill post mill and the tower mill known as Jack. (Members will know that Jill is the subject of restoration work involving the combined efforts of an SIAS group, the Mid Sussex District Council and E. Hole and Son of Burgess Hill).
In September 1765 an indenture was made between Viscount Montague and Edward Oram of Clayton which read: "Lease all that part of ground near to Duncton Gate on which a windmill has been lately erected by the son of the said Viscount and contained in the whole by five rods every way for a term of 99 years." Mr. Oram's mill came to be known as Dungate or Duncton mill and is first shown on Yeakell and Gardner's map of 1780. A sale notice in 1816 described this as "a substantial built post mill carrying 2 pairs of stones." She was brought into the wind by hand using a tailpole and talthur as is Nutley post mill today.
In September 1765 an indenture was made between Viscount Montague and Edward Oram of Clayton which read: "Lease all that part of ground near to Duncton Gate on which a windmill has been lately erected by the son of the said Viscount and contained in the whole by five rods every way for a term of 99 years." Mr. Oram's mill came to be known as Dungate or Duncton mill and is first shown on Yeakell and Gardner's map of 1780. A sale notice in 1816 described this as "a substantial built post mill carrying 2 pairs of stones." She was brought into the wind by hand using a tailpole and talthur as is Nutley post mill today.
Jesse Pumphrey, Millwright, by Martin Brunnarius, published 1987 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 17, article, pp.27-36, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16389/17] & The Keep [LIB/506526] Download PDF
The following is extracted from the day-to-day accounts of a journeyman millwright who lived and worked in and around Lewes during the first half of the nineteenth century. This is fascinating in its way, for, although it may have seemed trivia at the time, this simple record gives us today an insight into his involvement with farmers, trades people and millwrights as well as forming many links great and small in local history.
Windmill Hill Mill, Herstmonceux, by Martin Brunnarius and Ron Martin, published 1995 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 25, article, pp.18-21, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506527] Download PDF
Abstract:During the 1994 Society mill tour of East Sussex we visited Windmill Hill post mill to view the work described by Ron Martin later in this article. This has saved the mill from possible collapse.
This hand winded post mill is particularly noteworthy not least for its size, in height certainly. The massive bulk of the body has dropped considerably during the occupation of the site. Allowing a foot (0.3 m) for this, then the roof ridge would have been at 50 ft. (15.2 m) above the ground, some 5 ft. higher than Cross-in-Hand post mill 5 miles north west of here. The body is also the largest standing in the county. The Exceptional height is due to the whole being raised on lofty piers which place the trestle inconveniently above the first floor as illustrated on Ron Martin's drawing.
This hand winded post mill is particularly noteworthy not least for its size, in height certainly. The massive bulk of the body has dropped considerably during the occupation of the site. Allowing a foot (0.3 m) for this, then the roof ridge would have been at 50 ft. (15.2 m) above the ground, some 5 ft. higher than Cross-in-Hand post mill 5 miles north west of here. The body is also the largest standing in the county. The Exceptional height is due to the whole being raised on lofty piers which place the trestle inconveniently above the first floor as illustrated on Ron Martin's drawing.