Wray Common Mill, Reigate

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Wray Common Mill

The converted mill in 2008

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Origin
 Mill name Wray Common Mill

Grid reference TQ 2689 5109

51.245°N 0.183°WCoordinates:  51.245°N

Coordinates
0.183°W

Operator(s) Private

Year built 1824

Information

Purpose Corn mill

Type Tower mill

Storeys Five storeys

No. of sails Four sails

Type of sails Double Patent sails

Windshaft Cast iron

Winding Fantail

Fantail blades Six blades

Auxiliary power Steam engine, later replaced by an oil engine

Wray Common Mill is a grade II* listed[1] tower mill at Reigate, Surrey, England which

has been converted to residential use.

Contents

 1History
 2Residential Use
 3Restoration
 4Description
 5Millers
 6References

History[edit]
Wray Common Mill was built in 1824. The mill was worked by wind until 1895 when an
accident resulted in a broken sail. The mill had a steam engine, later replaced by an oil
engine, as auxiliary power.[2] The shutters were removed from the sails c.1900. The
condition of the sails rapidly deteriorated and a new set was fitted in 1928 by Thomas
Hunt, the Soham millwright. At this time all machinery except the Windshaft and Brake
Wheel was removed.[3]

Residential Use[edit]
Wray Common Mill was converted into residential accommodation in 1967. The mill fell
into a state of disrepair in the late 1990s, and a new owner started restoration in 2004.
[2]
 It now features four bedrooms, a utility/cloakroom, a kitchen/dining room, reception,
bathroom, shower room, wine cellar and a garden with a terrace. It was listed for sale
on UK property website Primelocation in 2007. [4][failed verification]

Restoration[edit]
The cap was removed on 26 August 2004.[5] A new cap was constructed, the building
stripped to a bare shell and defects made good, the old tar was stripped, and a new
coat applied to the exterior of the tower. The new cap was craned onto the mill in 2005.
An application for Listed Building permission to replace the sails was made in 2006.
[6]
 The sails were fitted in December 2007, the restoration of the mill's external
appearance to more closely match the mill in its working days was done in consultation
of Bonwick Milling Heritage Consultancy.[7] In a break with tradition, a modern method of
producing laminated timber beams was used in making the sails. [8] As a result of the
work, the mill was removed from the Buildings at Risk Register in 2006. [9]

Description[edit]
For an explanation of the various pieces of machinery, see Mill machinery.
Wray Common Mill is a five-storey brick tower mill with an ogee cap with a gallery. It
has four double Patent sails carried on a cast iron windshaft. The cap is winded by a
fantail. The cast iron Brake Wheel alone remains of the machinery, although it is known
that the millstones were driven overdrift. The tower is 20 feet (6.10 m) diameter at the
base and 12 feet (3.66 m) diameter at the curb, and 45 feet (13.72 m) high to the curb.[3]

Millers[edit]
 Joseph Coulstock 1824–1832[3]
 Edward LArmer c1850[3]
 Robert Budgen 1855–1857[3]
 Joseph Henry Cooke 1874[3]
 Mrs M Cooke 1895[3]

References[edit]
1. ^ Historic England.  "WRAY COMMON WINDMILL,
REIGATE, REIGATE AND BANSTEAD, SURREY
 (1029127)". National Heritage List for England.
Retrieved 2008-05-19.
2. ^ Jump up to:a b "Wray Common Windmill: A History". Wray
Common Windmill. Retrieved  2008-05-19.
3. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g Farries, Kenneth G & Mason, Martin T
(1966).  The Windmills of Surrey and Inner London. London:
Charles Skilton. pp.  179, 191–193.
4. ^ Wray Common Mill featured on Primelocation.com
5. ^ "Wray Common windmill, Surrey". Windmill World.
Retrieved 2008-05-19.
6. ^ "Wray Common Windmill: The Restoration 2004–2006".
Wray Common Windmill. Retrieved  2008-05-19.
7. ^ "REPORT ON CONDITION and RECONSTRUCTION
DESIGNS for Wray Common Windmill Project, Reigate,
Surrey". Bonwick Milling Heritage Consultancy.
Retrieved 2008-05-19.
8. ^ "Kerto puts the wind in Reigate Windmill's sails". Finnforest.
Retrieved 2008-05-19.
9. ^ "Building At Risk - Shurland Hall saved by £300,000 grant".
News Distribution Service. Archived from  the original on
2011-08-07. Retrieved 2008-05-19.

show

Windmills in England
Categories: 
 Tower mills in the United Kingdom
 Grinding mills in the United Kingdom
 Windmills completed in 1824
 Grade II* listed buildings in Surrey
 Windmills in Surrey
 Grade II* listed windmills
 Reigate
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 This page was last edited on 21 January 2021, at 17:46 (UTC).
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