Site overview

Waterhall Mill, also known as Westdene Windmill or Patcham Windmill, stands at Westdene. It was built in 1885 by James Holloway of Shoreham and was the last brick windmill built in Sussex. The mill worked until 1924, was used by the Home Guard during the Second World War, and was converted into a house in 1963.

Map

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History

Waterhall Mill stands on the slopes of Coney Hill at Westdene. It is also known as Westdene Windmill or Patcham Windmill. The tower mill was built in 1885 by James Holloway of Shoreham and was the last brick windmill built in Sussex.

It is a four-storey brick tower mill with a domed cap, a five-bladed fantail, four spring patent sails on a cast-iron windshaft, and three pairs of underdrift millstones. Joseph Harris was associated with the mill from 1885 to 1903. The mill worked until 1924.

During the Second World War it was used by the Home Guard as a lookout post. It was listed in 1952 and converted into a house in 1963, retaining machinery and receiving external restoration. New sweeps were erected in 1972, and the cap was partly rebuilt after lightning damage in 1990.

Timeline

1885

Waterhall Mill built

Waterhall Mill was built at Westdene by James Holloway of Shoreham.
1924

Windmill stopped working

Waterhall Mill ceased working as a corn mill.
1939–1945

Home Guard lookout use

The former mill was used by the Home Guard as a lookout post during the Second World War.
1952

Mill listed

Waterhall Mill was listed for its architectural and historic interest.
1963

Mill converted to house

The tower mill was converted into a domestic house.
1972

New sweeps erected

New sweeps were erected on the converted tower mill.

Sources and records

Waterhall Mill, Patcham article
Westdene local history article
Grade II listed buildings in Brighton and Hove: W-Z
Brighton and Hove News article: Baron found hiding in a Brighton Windmill
List of windmills in East Sussex