The Weald of Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Crowborough Tower Mill  Park Road    Crowborough  
Crowborough Mill by Frank Brangwyn
Crowborough Mill by Frank Brangwyn
From the illustration by Frank Brangwyn, R.A., in the book Windmills, taken before it lost its cap, one can see that this was of special interest, in that it was of the Kentish hooded shape, and not of the beehive variety usually associated with Sussex tower mills, the only other example having been Mark Cross Mill, between Tunbridge Wells and Mayfield. The tower was of brick, and at one time was, I believe, tarred black. From its size I fancy that at least three pairs of stones must have been driven by this mill. The sweeps were of the patent self-reefing pattern, and the cap was surmounted by a lofty fan-tail.
extract from Hemming's Windmills


Books and other documents
PublishedTitle, author and references
1936Old Crowborough Windmill by G. H. Paynter ⇒ p. 222
1936Windmills in Sussex by Peter Hemming ⇒ p. 105
1985Crowborough - The Growth of a Wealden Town by Malcolm Payne ⇒ p. 47

Historical records

7th Apr 1861CensusRichd Pratt, M, Head, married, age 44, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: miller & farmerRichard Pratt, grocer, miller and farmerCrowborough1861 Census
Rotherfield and Crowborough, Sussex
Hannah Pratt, F, Wife, married, age 44, born Rotherfield, SussexHannah Pratt [Callow]
Jessee Pratt, M, Son, single, age 17, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: miller's loaderJesse Pratt
Saml Pratt, M, Son, single, age 15, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: scholarSamuel Pratt, master miller
William Pratt, M, Son, age 12, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: scholarWilliam Pratt, master brickmaker
Sarah Pratt, F, Daughter, age 9, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: scholarSarah Oliver [Pratt]
Richd Pratt, M, Son, age 7, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: scholarRichard Pratt
Leah Pratt, F, Daughter, age 5, born Rotherfield, SussexLeah Burfoot [Pratt]

2nd Apr 1871CensusRichard Pratt, M, Head, married, age 54, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: miller and farmer of 100 acres employing 5 men and 2 boysRichard Pratt, grocer, miller and farmerCrowborough1871 Census
Rotherfield and Crowborough, Sussex
Hannah Pratt, F, Wife, married, age 54, born Rotherfield, SussexHannah Pratt [Callow]
Richard Pratt, M, Son, single, age 17, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: miller's loaderRichard Pratt
Richard Pratt, M, Son, single, age 17, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: miller's loaderRichard Pratt
Richard Pratt, M, Son, single, age 17, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: miller's loaderRichard Pratt
Leah Pratt, F, Daughter, single, age 15, born Rotherfield, SussexLeah Burfoot [Pratt]
Sarah Wickens, F, Granddaughter, age 2, born Rotherfield, SussexSarah Wickens

2nd Apr 1871CensusSamuel Pratt, M, Head, married, age 25, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: grinder in corn millSamuel Pratt, master millerCrowborough1871 Census
Rotherfield and Crowborough, Sussex
Lois Pratt, F, Wife, married, age 24, born Rotherfield, SussexLois Fenner Pratt [Smith]
Anne Pratt, F, Daughter, age 2, born Rotherfield, SussexAnne Colbran [Pratt]
Esther Pratt, F, Daughter, age 3m, born Rotherfield, SussexEsther Whatford [Pratt]
Lois Jenner, F, Servant, age 10, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: general servantLois Jenner

3rd Apr 1881CensusObed Fenner, M, Head, married, age 57, born Rotherfield; occupation: farm labourerObed Fenner, smithPratts Cottage1881 Census
Rotherfield, Sussex
Harriett Fenner, F, Wife, married, age 53, born RotherfieldHarriett Fenner [Smith]
Ebenezer Fenner, M, Son, age 9, born Rotherfield; occupation: scholarEbenezer Fenner
Ellen Fenner, F, Daughter, age 12, born Rotherfield; occupation: scholarEllen Fenner

3rd Apr 1881CensusSamuel Pratt, M, Head, married, age 35, born Rotherfield, employs 2 men and 1 boy; occupation: master millerSamuel Pratt, master millerWind Mill House1881 Census
Rotherfield, Sussex
Lois Pratt, F, Wife, married, age 34, born RotherfieldLois Fenner Pratt [Smith]
Anne Pratt, F, Daughter, age 12, born Rotherfield; occupation: school monitorAnne Colbran [Pratt]
Esther Pratt, F, Daughter, age 10, born Rotherfield; occupation: scholarEsther Whatford [Pratt]
Joseph Pratt, M, Son, age 8, born Rotherfield; occupation: scholarJoseph Pratt, corn milling, grinder
Benjamin T. Pratt, M, Son, age 6, born Rotherfield; occupation: scholarBenjamin Thomas Pratt, corn miller

3rd Apr 1881CensusJesse Brown, M, Head, married, age 34, born Buxted; occupation: farm labourerJesse Brown, farm labourerPratts Farm1881 Census
Rotherfield, Sussex
Mary Brown, F, Wife, married, age 27, born RotherfieldMary Brown
Mary Brown, F, Daughter, age 5, born Rotherfield; occupation: scholarMary Leah Brown
Anne Brown, F, Daughter, age 18 m, born RotherfieldAnne Brown

1890Pratts MillPratts Mill, CrowboroughOld Crowborough Windmill

5th Apr 1891CensusEbenezer Fenner, M, Servant, single, age 19, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation Farm LabourerEbenezer FennerCrowboro Mill1891 Census
Rotherfield, Sussex

5th Apr 1891CensusSamuel Pratt, M, Head, married, age 45, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: corn millerSamuel Pratt, master millerCrowboro Mill1891 Census
Rotherfield, Sussex
Lois Pratt, F, Wife, married, age 44, born Rotherfield, SussexLois Fenner Pratt [Smith]
Esther Pratt, F, Daughter, single, age 20, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: assists at homeEsther Whatford [Pratt]
Joseph Pratt, M, Son, single, age 18, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: labourer in the millJoseph Pratt, corn milling, grinder
Benj Thos Pratt, M, Son, single, age 16, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: assistant labourer in the millBenjamin Thomas Pratt, corn miller
Harriet Pratt, F, Visitor, married, age 45, born Mayfield, SussexHarriett Pratt [Collins]
Ebenezer Fenner, M, Servant, single, age 19, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: farm labourerEbenezer Fenner

c 1899Crowborough Chapel Green, Sussex - c 1899Part of the 6 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1899 by Ordnance SurveyCorn Mill

1905WindmillWindmill, CrowboroughPrivate collection

c 1905Pratts WindmillPratts Windmill, CrowboroughPrivate collection

1910Crowborough Cross from Station RoadCrowborough Cross from Station Road, Crowborough photographed by Webb and Longstaffe, CrowboroughCrowborough Tower MillPrivate collection

2nd Apr 1911CensusLois Pratt, F, Head, widow, age 64, born Rotherfield, Sussex; occupation: newspaper agentLois Fenner Pratt [Smith]The Mills1911 Census
Crowborough, Sussex
Ellen Stevens, F, Sister, married, age 42, born Rotherfield, SussexEllen Stevens

1912HistoryCrowborough Tower MillHemming's Windmills
For some years before it ceased work for good and all, in 1912, it was power-operated by a gas engine, but now no signs of its former activities remain, and the brickwork trunk is of little interest and entirely unattractive to the lover of windmills.

1912Old MillOld Mill, CrowboroughPrivate collection

1923Crowborough MillCrowborough Mill, Crowborough painted by Frank BrangwynWindmills & Watermills

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