The Quest For England and the Search for Ringmer Windmill
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.ย. 2024
- Today I am in search of a windmill, or at least the last remaining relic. I am looking for Ringmer Mill, or Glyndebourne Mill as it is also known. There is little left, just the old oak post that it once balanced on up in the South Downs close to Glyndebourne, in East Sussex.
The post is mentioned in The Lure of Sussex, by R. Thurston Hopkins, a book reading during the daily live sessions at 4pm week days. It was there in 1928 when the book was published. I wanted to see if it was still there today.
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Thanks Richard, What fabulous and very informative video. As you say the new modern turbine is not the nicest thing in the world, but somehow it complements the old windmill. Well done.👍
That was really fascinating Richard! So glad you were able to find some old photos to show w/ this so we had a clearer picture of how it once was!!!🙂
Glad you enjoyed it
Great video. Love the juxtaposition of ancient and modern whether intentional or otherwise. I found this..... Erected in 1740 the windmill remained in working use until 1921. It collapsed four years later but its trestle timbers remained standing until they too blew down in a storm in 1964. All that remains now is the centre post re-erected by Glyndebourne Estate in 1968, the quarter bars are reproduction and have been set in concrete. The area around the former windmill is known as Mill Plain
Fascinating 👍
Thanks for that Linda.
Thankfully some old windmills have been lovingly preserved and renovated. I am a member of the Friends of West Blatchington Windmill, who keep the history of that lovely building alive and kicking. Sadly it no longer functions as a mill but is a beautiful ancient building and an important part of the local scenery which thankfully still exists and has become a popular place to hold meetings, training sessions and community events 👍
I have had a private tour of West Blatchington Mill and would dearly like to do a video.
What a lovely video Richard. You brought life & atmosphere to the remains of the post mill. I could almost see it working!
Thanks Rose.
Thank you for documenting the remanent of this historical building. It's almost gone.
Great videography :) really interesting and fascinating that back in the 1920s, they cleared most of the old mill away but never cleared that central post.
It's amazing to think that that post has been there for over 200 years. Such a shame that it came down and they couldn't restore it. I do like windmills, lovely video once again Richard. And thankyou for always taking your time to like or reply to my comments I know I write alot hehe. :)
No problem, Charlie - I appreciate the comments. And yes, windmills are fabulous.
A tremendous story, well told. I guess that nearly the whole weight of the mill was balanced on top of that post. Lovely to see the new turbine is playing homage to the old mill.
Yes, on almost all post mills, the entire weight of the body rests on the post. Except for on "Midlands" post mills, which have a circular wheeled track under the body, and are now very rare.
I love the idea of searching out landmarks that previous writers had written about. These clues from the past help reinforce our national identity.
Thanks, Andrew.
Beautiful british county.
Ringmer windmill was grinding corn until 1921. It started to lean at an unsafe angle until it collapsed in 1925. Glyndebourne Trust re-erected the mill post in 1968.
Thanks for the info
You could tell it wasn't original as concrete at base of post
You almost took the words out of my mouth!
Isn't it amazing that a solitary post withstood the weight of mill stones, sacks if corn, sails and structure, not to mention the miller...or maybe there were more supports. The old photos are wonderful!
Just goes to prove what an excellent and windy spot that must be that it continues to have a “windmill” on it. Been up there a few times and photographed them both. If you stop to think how big the windmill would have been in 1740, I wonder if the locals complained about that spoiling their view up there too?!
I am not sure they would have complained about the view. Industry was all around, with iron forges in the Weald, lime and chalk extraction on the downs. It was only in the late 18th century that we have painters beginning to paint rural scenes and bring a sense of aesthetic to the landscape. Before that, I believe it was taken for granted.
There is a wonderful book called "In Search of English Windmills" by R. Thurston Hopkins and Stanley Freese written in 1931 well worth getting if you can find a copy. The trestle here in Ringmer / Glyndebourne was re-erected by the Glyndebourne Estate Trust in 1968 using the original central post. The 4 quarter bars were replaced then. The original quarter bars holding up the central post would've been meatier so as to support the post. The fact that the post and 4 quarter bars are cemented in the ground is the reason why it is still there. Originally they would've rested on 4 brick piers.
I believe the support posts are not originals, only the main post is. Thanks for book recommendation.
The cross trees, 2 horizontal beams found at the base of a post mill trestle, are no longer there.
It is fascinating to think of how old that post must be.When it was first cut down, it would have been a mature oak. I have mixed feelings about the modern equivalent. They are a blight but I suppose if they produce reliable energy then it must be a worthy effort.
I know what you mean.
I never knew about the old mill there I can see that mill just up from were i live on the downs. Nice one
tRichard You’re looking at the old type of mill ,just have next door the new boy on the block the old one would about been
Same size the new one
interesting video, I've gone past that turbine many times and never knew about the old windmill. I wonder though if when in a time when windmills were popping up all over the place on top of hills they were thought of as blots on the landscape just as some do now with turbines...
Nice exploration!
Thanks!
Yup, I was able to order the book. Eaglegards...
Whoever chose the position of the Post Mill had determined the best position for catching the wind. The Later Wind Turbine had a good clue to follow and no doubt conducted tests to prove it.
A lovely film, interesting, Fascinating, and Entertaining. Well Done. How did they get Grain to it and flour away? An old Lane?
I know many people consider the new wind turbines to be an eyesore - even though it's important, in my opinion, to generate as much renewable energy as possible. It's worth bearing in mind that there were probably similar criticisms of windmills when they first appeared on the landscape. Luckily, we humans tend to adapt!
What happened to Arthur Cook ?
I am not a fan of turbines. They are overly expensive and not very effective.
I will return to the Cooke book soon, waiting for churches to open. This trip was inspired by another book I am reading during my 'live' readings.
how could Jonathan Creek live in that?