1823
Smock mill built
Rock Mill was built at Washington as a wind-powered corn mill.
Site overview
Rock Mill, also known as Rock Windmill or Washington Windmill, is a smock corn mill on Rock Lane at Washington in West Sussex. It was built in 1823 and worked into the early twentieth century. The mill was converted to a house in about 1919, with machinery retained as decorative material.
Composer John Ireland bought the converted mill in 1953 and lived there until his death in 1962. The building is Grade II listed and has also been used as offices.
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
Rock Mill was built in 1823 at Washington in West Sussex as a wind-powered corn mill. It was a three-storey smock mill on a single-storey base, with eight sides to the smock. The mill formerly carried a beehive cap, four patent sails and a fantail, and it drove three pairs of millstones, including two pairs of French Burr stones and one pair of Peak stones.
Named millers in the nineteenth century included Thomas Harwood, Henry Harwood, E. Mitchell and S. A. Coote. The mill was still working at the outbreak of the First World War, but its industrial use ended soon afterwards. Around 1919 the mill was converted into a house, with machinery retained inside as decoration.
In 1953 the composer John Ireland bought Rock Mill and lived there during the final decade of his life. The building was listed at Grade II on 24 February 1977. By 2007 it was being used as offices, while later accounts describe its condition as poor.
Timeline
1837–1840
Harwood millers
Thomas Harwood and Henry Harwood were associated with Rock Mill during the late 1830s.
1914
Still working during the First World War
The mill was still working at the outbreak of the First World War.
1919
Converted to residential use
The former mill was converted into a house in about 1919, with machinery retained as decoration.
1953
John Ireland bought the mill
Composer John Ireland bought Rock Mill and made it his home.
1977
Grade II listing
Rock Windmill was listed at Grade II.
Sources and records
Historic England National Heritage List entry: Rock Windmill
Windmill World entry: Rock Mill, Washington
Sussex Mills Group windmill gazetteer
Geograph entry: Rock Mill, Washington
John Ireland Charitable Trust biography
List of windmills in West Sussex
Windmill World entry: Rock Mill, Washington
Sussex Mills Group windmill gazetteer
Geograph entry: Rock Mill, Washington
John Ireland Charitable Trust biography
List of windmills in West Sussex