Baker Street Windmills (EHER 5122)

Windmill, said to have been built in 1674. It is a two storey octagonal, weatherboarded smock mill that ceased working in 1917. Remains of gallery at first floor end. Mid 19th century engine shed adjacent in red brick. It is now a house. Summary from record 35154: Late C17 smock mill.

Wind mill said to date from 1624. Octagonal, two-storied, weatherboarded smock mill. Two-storey brick base. Remains of gallery of first floor. Boat-shaped cap is fragmentary. Broken tail fan, remains of four patent sails. <1> <2> Has deteriorated much since the war. <3> February 1960. Grade II listed. Said to date from 1674. Octagonal two storey weatherboarded smock mill on two storey brick base. Remains of gallery at first floor end. Mid 19th century engine shed adjacent in red brick. All now ruinous. <4> 2008. Field survey. The site of Baker Street Mills comprises a dilapidated smock mill on a two-storey brick base, missing its cap and gallery with disintegrating sails, and an adjacent early 19th century brick and slate steam mill with an 'A' frame beam engine by Middleton of Southwark. The smock mill is grade II listed and thought to date from 1674. It is an octagonal two-storey, weatherboarded mill on a two-storey brick base. Prior to its restoration it retained remains of a gallery at the first floor, a fragmentary boat-shaped cap, a broken tail fan and the remains of four patent sails. The windmill and adjoining mid 19th century engine shed had deteriorated much since the war. The mill lies in a relatively isolated location to the south of Stifford Road and on the western edge of Baker Street and Orsett respectively. The principal buildings on site include: a recently restored weather-boarded smock windmill (listed), a mid 19th century brick and slate steam mill and various later residential accretions. The Baker Street mills were not accessible or easily observed during the survey, due to security fencing and the remoteness of the site from both Baker Street and Stifford Road. Hence all survey was carried out at a distance from the roadside and the description is accordingly brief. The steam mill comprises a 2½ storey yellow stock brick double pile adjoining a smaller perpendicular two storey range to the east with a half hipped slate covered roof. A tall 19th century industrial chimney stack with brick corbelling lies at the junction of the two ranges and along the northern wall. The western bays of the double pile appear to be a modern rebuild or enlargement of the existing steam mill. The steam mill windows are modern replica sash windows set into simple segmental brick arches. Following the completion of its restoration in around 2000, the 'A' frame beam engine was ‘in situ’ and had been incorporated into the final scheme, while some mill gearing remained within the smock mill (pers. comm.). The smock mill has a two-storey brick base, a timber-framed and weatherboarded octagonal mid-section (stone and bin floors) and restored cap and sails. <5> May 2011. Field survey. Site background: Baker Street’s eighteenth century mill last worked in 1917. It was derelict for many years but refused to collapse. It has now been restored externally and the sails can turn. The adjoining steam mill forms part of a house conversion. With seven sets of millstones in their original position, this is largest intact historically important mill complex in Essex. Set in a secured site, both the smock mill and the adjoining steam mill are retained in immaculate condition. Smock mill and restored steam mill have both been converted to residential accommodation but without compromising the integrity of the historic machinery. This survey is a departure from the normal entries in that is should also be considered an update to the report on Baker Street Mills given in the Industrial Survey of Water and Steam Mills produced by the County Council in 2009. Baker Street Mills is the best preserved combined wind and steam mill in Essex. Contains complete sets of operating machinery and millstones machinery have been retained both within the smock mill and within the steam mill and is hence the site as a whole is of very considerable historic importance. Smock Mill: The mill was repainted two years ago and the owner is concerned about slight mould growth on the paintwork. Complete with mill machinery and 3 sets of French Burr millstones. Although the tuns are mostly complete, the operating mechanism consisting of damsel, horse and hoppers no longer exist. The whole was restored by Vincent Pargeter formerly Essex County Council Millwright and is currently maintained by a handyman under Vincent Pargeter’s guidance. The sails are turned regularly and the machinery and cap are retained in excellent working order. Steam Mill: Baker Street Mills contain one of the first steam corn mills in Essex which is therefore of considerable historic importance. This is a single cylinder rotative A-frame beam engine from Middleton Southwark with a complete flywheel that was constructed around 1840. Unfortunately the horizontal beam itself and the motion rods have been removed. Mounted on a stone plinth. Single piston engine. Adjoining is the flywheel and the riveted plate fire-tube boiler with intact dials and controls. Horizontal shaft transfers the drive to the spur wheel in the next room. Wooden bridge trees and iron tentering gear control stones on floor above. 4 sets of French Burr millstones were noted on first floor. <6> Site Assessment: Has deteriorated much since the war. <3> 'All now ruinous'. <4> NRHE data transfer: Recorded by NRIM. Photographed. <7> <8> See also <9>.