Malling Mill

Site overview

Lewes Town Mill was a smock mill built in 1802 on the site later occupied by the Round House. It was damaged by a gale in December 1803 and later sold to William Smart. In 1819 the smock body was dismantled and moved to a new site near the later Lewes Prison, where it became known as Smart's Mill.

The former base was later converted into a dwelling.

Map

Map markers and directions links are provided for location reference only and do not indicate public access or permission to enter a site.

No site photograph is currently available. Images will be added as field visits are carried out.

History

Lewes Town Mill was built in 1802 as a smock mill on the site later known as the Round House. It had been working for less than two years when it was badly damaged by a gale in December 1803. The mill committee later tried to dispose of the mill, and it was sold by auction in January 1813 to James Lade of Chiddingly.

Lade worked it briefly before selling it to William Smart, a Lewes corn chandler. Smart's son Samuel worked at the town mill until 1819. In that year the smock was dismantled and moved to a new site near where Lewes Prison later stood.

On the new site it became known as Smart's Mill. The former base at the original town-mill site was later converted into a dwelling, forming the distinctive Round House.

Timeline

1802

Town Mill built

Lewes Town Mill was built as a smock mill.

1803

Mill damaged by gale

The smock mill was badly damaged by a gale in December 1803.

1813

Mill sold to James Lade

The mill was sold by auction to James Lade of Chiddingly.

1819

Smock body moved

The smock body was dismantled and moved to a new site near the later Lewes Prison.

1819

Round House site created

The former town-mill base later became part of the Round House.

Sources and records

Friends of Lewes leaflet: The Round House
List of windmills in East Sussex
Sussex Mills Group windmills list
Sussex Industrial History article on Sussex windmill caps