CHILLENDEN WINDMILL RESTORATION
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Summary of the recent restoration work, 2002 - Peter Cobley The mill remained in private hands until 1958, when KCC acquired it. Unfortunately the adjoining barn was demolished and the milling furniture removed. The mill stands in an exposed position amongst fields and lanes and forms an important and distinctive local landmark, the original reason for its purchase. The mill had suffered over many years from superficial repairs, sometimes carried out by local builders rather than a millwright. As a result, repairs were done without dealing with the basic problems. The most important alteration and one of which compromised the mill's structural continuity, was to wedge the post to the cross trees below and secure the tail pole to the ground with a steel post. This prevented the body moving independently on its trestle. As a result, the mill body suffered further and with beetle and water damage the mill frame was becoming dangerous. The repairs have now been completed. This includes re boarding and extensive repairs to the frame, trestle repairs, replacing the stocks, rebuilding sweeps and replacing shutter frames and shutter furniture. As part of an ongoing experiment comparing alternative coatings and materials, the mill body has been painted with a white lead paint, whilst the stocks and sweeps have been painted using a natural pigment made up of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and chalk, suspended in raw linseed oil.
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Restoration work begins, summer 2001. The two remaining sweeps are prepared for removal. |
