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Post by paul clough on Jul 5, 2005 17:41:44 GMT
'Ushaw windmill had a short, but quite interesting history. This account is taken from Wiggen, W. R., Esh Leaves, (Durham, 1914): " Shortly after the Roman Catholic College was established at Ushaw, in Esh parish, in 1808, its ruling authorities built a tall (60-70 feet high) stone-tower windmill, to provide flour for the inmates of the college, as well as provender for the livestock on the College farm; it had 2 pairs of 4½ feet millstones; the miller was a Mr George Curry. Luffing was by fantail, and 36 foot common sails were used. On New Year's morning, 1853, an extraordinary gale swept over the district, causing much damage. The fantail of the Ushaw windmill became disabled, and was therefore unable to hold the sails into the eye of the wind, and the cap and sails drifted round to the leeward side of the tower. Such a situation could often be fatal to a windmill, since it was only the weight of the windshaft and sails, that held the cap down on the top of the tower. So it was at Ushaw, when, during the gale, an extra powerful gust simply tilted over the entire cap assemblage, which promptly fell to the ground. The windmill was never restored, but some of its equipment was salvaged for a small steam mill, constructed nearby at the College farm. In 1884, the remaining windmill tower was lowered to first floor level, and the recovered stone work used to build an agricultural silo."'
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Post by stbedes on May 12, 2008 3:02:23 GMT
Does someone live here now? stBedes
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Post by paul clough on May 13, 2008 8:28:22 GMT
Yeah in the houses nearby.
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Post by stbedes on Jul 12, 2008 4:09:41 GMT
I love the clothes hanging on the line - makes this photo very interesting. Did you take it, Paul?
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Post by paul clough on Jul 14, 2008 16:09:16 GMT
Hi no, I didn't take photo sourced it online,,, not sure where,, i forget..
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