1879
Smock mill built
King's Mill was built at Shipley in 1879 for Friend Martin.
Site overview
King's Mill, also known as Vincent's Mill and Shipley Windmill, is a smock mill at Shipley. It was built in 1879 for Friend Martin and worked commercially until 1926. Hilaire Belloc bought the mill and surrounding land in 1906.
The mill was restored after Belloc's death and opened to visitors in 1958. It later became widely known as the filming location for Jonathan Creek.
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
King's Mill stands at Shipley and is also known as Vincent's Mill or Shipley Windmill. It was built in 1879 for Friend Martin by Grist and Steele of Horsham at a cost of £2,500. Machinery from a windmill at Coldwaltham is believed to have been incorporated, and reused timbers appear to have come from the Honeypoles post mill that it replaced.
The mill is a four-storey smock mill on a two-storey brick base, with a stage, patent sails on a cast-iron windshaft, a fantail, and three pairs of overdrift millstones. Hilaire Belloc bought the mill and surrounding land in 1906. It worked commercially until 1926, latterly with steam power.
After Belloc's death in 1953, the mill was restored as a memorial and reopened to visitors in 1958. Later repairs were carried out between 1987 and 1990, with further sails fitted in 1991 and 2013.
Timeline
1906
Belloc bought mill
Hilaire Belloc bought King's Mill and the surrounding land in 1906.
1926
Commercial milling ended
King's Mill worked commercially until 1926.
1958
Mill reopened to visitors
King's Mill reopened to visitors in 1958 after restoration as a memorial to Hilaire Belloc.
1987–1990
Major repairs completed
Major restoration work was carried out between 1987 and 1990.
2013
New sweeps fitted
Two new pairs of sweeps and a further new stock were fitted in 2013.
Sources and records
Wikipedia article: King's Mill, Shipley
Mills Archive mill record: King's Mill, Shipley
Windmill World: Shipley windmill
Sussex Mills Group: Shipley Windmill
Wikishire article: King's Mill, Shipley
BBC News: Creek windmill to close to public
Mills Archive mill record: King's Mill, Shipley
Windmill World: Shipley windmill
Sussex Mills Group: Shipley Windmill
Wikishire article: King's Mill, Shipley
BBC News: Creek windmill to close to public