1876
Stone Cross Windmill built
Stone Cross Windmill was built as a five-storey tower mill.
Site overview
Stone Cross Windmill stands at Stone Cross in the parish of Westham. It was built in 1876 by Stephen Neve, with the tower built by Thomas Honeysett and machinery supplied by the Phoenix Iron Foundry of Lewes. The mill worked by wind until 1937 and was restored from the late twentieth century.
It produced wholemeal flour again in 2000.
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
Stone Cross Windmill stands on high ground at Stone Cross in the parish of Westham. It is a five-storey tower mill, also known as Stone Cross Mill, White Mill, and Blackness Mill. The mill was built in 1876 by Stephen Neve, the Warbleton millwright.
Thomas Honeysett built the brick tower, and the Phoenix Iron Foundry of Lewes supplied machinery. The mill has a stage at first-floor level, a domed cap, fantail winding, four patent sails on a cast-iron windshaft, an iron brake wheel, and three pairs of overdriven millstones. Samuel Dallaway, Frederick Dallaway, and Henry Dallaway were associated with the mill during its working life.
Two sails were blown off in 1925, and the mill worked by wind until 1937. It was used as an observation post during the Second World War. Restoration began in 1998 after the formation of Stone Cross Mill Trust, and the mill produced wholemeal flour again in 2000.
Timeline
1925
Two sails blown off
Two sails were blown off the tower mill.
1937
Wind working ended
Stone Cross Windmill ceased working by wind.
1939–1945
Observation-post use
The tower mill was used as an observation post during the Second World War.
1996
Trust registered
Stone Cross Mill Trust became a registered charity.
1998
Restoration began
Restoration work began at Stone Cross Windmill.
2000
Flour produced again
The restored mill was able to produce wholemeal flour again.
Sources and records
Stone Cross Windmill official history
Stone Cross Windmill article
Historic England listed building record: Stone Cross Windmill
Windmill World entry: Stone Cross Windmill
Westham village history
Stone Cross Windmill article
Historic England listed building record: Stone Cross Windmill
Windmill World entry: Stone Cross Windmill
Westham village history