ÿþ<HTML LANG=en-GB> <HEAD> <TITLE>The Derelict Miscellany :: Elmer's Mill</TITLE> <META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="derelict, abandoned, mills, milling, elmers, almers, mill, ockley, surrey, ruin, restoration"> <META NAME="description" CONTENT="Short history and pre-restoration photographs of Elmer's Mill, Ockley. "> <META NAME="author" CONTENT="D. A. Gregory"> <META NAME="ROBOTS" CONTENT="ALL"> <link rel="icon" href="favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"> </head> <body link="#668b8b" bgcolor="darkgray" text="000000" vlink="#668b8b"> <center> <table width=1044> <tr><td> <table width=1044 cellspacing=0> <tr background="gam_print_ordsvywat-sun-171278517207606.jpg"> <td background="gam_print_ordsvywat-sun-171278517207606.jpg" align=right><A HREF="index.html"><img src=1.jpg border=0></a></td><td background="gam_print_ordsvywat-sun-171278517207606.jpg" align=center> <a indepth="true" STYLE="text-decoration: none" HREF="index.html"><h1>T H E &nbsp D E R E L I C T &nbsp M I S C E L L A N Y</H1></A> R e f l e c t i o n s &nbsp o n &nbsp f o r g o t t e n &nbsp a n d &nbsp a b a n d o n e d &nbsp s p a c e s <br><br> </td><td background="gam_print_ordsvywat-sun-171278517207606.jpg" align=left><A HREF="index.html"><img src=2.jpg border=0></a></td></tr></table> </td></tr> <tr><td bgcolor="#EEE9E9"> <center> <a indepth="true" STYLE="text-decoration: none" href="http://derelictmisc.org.uk/index.html">{home} </a> &nbsp &nbsp <a indepth="true" STYLE="text-decoration: none" href="http://derelictmisc.org.uk/menu2.html">{menu} </a> &nbsp &nbsp <a indepth="true" STYLE="text-decoration: none" href="aboot.html">{about} </a> &nbsp &nbsp <a indepth="true" STYLE="text-decoration: none" href="cont.html">{contact} </a> &nbsp &nbsp <a indepth="true" STYLE="text-decoration: none"href="http://twitter.com/DerelictMisc" target="blank">{twitter}</a> &nbsp &nbsp <a indepth="true" STYLE="text-decoration: none" href="disc.html">{disclaimer}</a> &nbsp &nbsp <a href="#" STYLE="text-decoration: none" onClick="window.open('veh/index.html','', 'width=589,height=577,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,status=no,toolbar=no,menubar=no');return false;"> {rusty old cars}</A> &nbsp &nbsp <a href="#" STYLE="text-decoration: none" onClick="window.open('misc/menu.html','', 'width=870,height=482,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,status=no,toolbar=no,menubar=no');return false;"> {miscellany}</A> &nbsp &nbsp <a indepth="true" STYLE="text-decoration: none" href="links.html">{links}</a> &nbsp &nbsp <a indepth="true" STYLE="text-decoration: none" href="contrib.html">{contribute} </a> </td></tr><tr><td bgcolor=#EEE9E9><table width=100% bgcolor="#EEE9E9"> <td width=13></td><td> <center><br><u><font size=5>Elmer's Windmill</font></u><br></center> <br> <b>What:</B> Smock windmill <BR> <b>Where:</B> Ockley, Surrey <BR> <b>Built:</b> 1803 <BR> <b>Architect:</b> Thomas Coldman (as miller) <BR> <b>Abandoned:</b> 1912 <BR> <b>Listed:</b> No <BR><b>Visited:</b> 2006<BR> <b>Last Known Condition:</b> Rebuilt as a private house, 2009 <br><b>Page Updated:</b> February 2011<BR> <br> <table><tr><td width=700 valign=top> </b> <font color=black> <a href="#" onClick="window.open('industrial/PIC_0049.jpg','', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=yes,status=no,toolbar=no,menubar=no');return false;" > <img alt="The mill from Elmer's Farm, with the henhouse foreground right." src="industrial/th_PIC_0049.jpg" border=0> </A> . <a href="#" onClick="window.open('industrial/PIC_0050.jpg','', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,status=no,toolbar=no,menubar=no');return false;" > <img alt="The mill base." src="industrial/th_PIC_0050.jpg" border=0> </a> . <a href="#" onClick="window.open('industrial/PIC_0051.jpg','', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,status=no,toolbar=no,menubar=no');return false;" > <img alt="Another view of the base." src="industrial/th_PIC_0051.jpg" border=0> </a> . <a href="#" onClick="window.open('industrial/PIC_0053.jpg','', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,status=no,toolbar=no,menubar=no');return false;" > <img alt="the one window." src="industrial/th_PIC_0053.jpg" border=0> </a> <br> </font> <a href="#" onClick="window.open('industrial/PIC_0057.jpg','', 'width=480,height=640,scrollbars=no,resizable=yes,status=no,toolbar=no,menubar=no');return false;" > <img alt="The entrance to the mill." height=235 src="industrial/PIC_0057.jpg" border=0> </A> <a href="#" onClick="window.open('industrial/cpIC_0057.jpg','', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,status=no,toolbar=no,menubar=no');return false;" > <img alt="Initialled and dated bricks above the entrance, the date on the wooden lintel, barely ledgible, is anomalous - this timber was salvaged from a barn on the green." height=235 src="industrial/cpIC_0057.jpg" border=0> </a> <a href="#" onClick="window.open('industrial/PIC_0055.jpg','', 'width=480,height=640,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,status=no,toolbar=no,menubar=no');return false;" > <img alt="Inside." height=235 src="industrial/PIC_0055.jpg" border=0> </a> <br> <font color=black> <a href="#" onClick="window.open('industrial/PIC_0056_001.jpg','', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,status=no,toolbar=no,menubar=no');return false;" > <img alt="Inside, floor sleepers." src="industrial/th_PIC_0056.jpg" border=0> </a> . <a href="#" onClick="window.open('industrial/PIC_0058.jpg','', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,status=no,toolbar=no,menubar=no');return false;" > <img alt="This photo shows the rough construction of the foundations." src="industrial/th_PIC_0058.jpg" border=0> </a> . <a href="#" onClick="window.open('industrial/PIC_0059.jpg','', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,status=no,toolbar=no,menubar=no');return false;" > <img alt="Another initialled brick, this one is undated." src="industrial/th_PIC_0059.jpg" border=0> </a> . <a href="#" onClick="window.open('archivelmer.htm','', 'width=800,height=490,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,status=no,toolbar=no,menubar=no');return false;" HREF="archivelmer.htm"> <img alt="Archive photograph, 1909, Copyright Unknown." height=120 width=160 src="industrial/Ockley_Mill_1909.jpg" border=0> </a> <br> </font> </td><td valign=top align=justify>A strange brick built octagonal building stands alone on a hill above the Surrey village of Ockley, it isn't big, perhaps little more than 20 feet accross, and nor is it very impressive. Below it on the west facing slope of the hill is a long shed which has evidently been used for keeping chickens, judging by the state of it quite some time ago. To the untrained eye, the brick rotunda is no less puzzing on close inspection - it turns out to have no roof and set in the masonry over the door are four bricks inscribed with the builder's initials, JB, WC, WL and DN and each bearing the date 1803. If one looks in the right place, however, all soon becomes clear. <br> This is, or rather was Elmer's (or Almer's) Mill, a smock mill built in 1803 for a Mr. Harrison of Harley Street, London by Thomas Coldman for a sum of £735 5s 9¼d. Remarkably, throughout its working life of a little over a century, Elmer's Mill was worked exclusively by the Coldman family. It was under Edward Coldman in 1912 that the last flour was ground there before competition from the new steam mills finally forced the mill to close. </td></tr></table> <p align=justify> With no further use to be found for her and windmill preservation all but unheard of in those days, she (a windmill is always referred to as 'she') was abandoned and left to the wind and rain. Despite later attempts to save her, she soon began to deteriorate so that by 1930 when help was applied for by the owner for restoration, she was found to be quite beyond repair. Finally, on 23rd November, 1944, 32 years of storm damage, gales and rot proved too much for the 150 year old structure to bear and without warning, Elmer's Mill collapsed leaving only the brick built base standing. Timbers were either burnt or re-used and all ironwork was scrapped to help the War Effort. The base was at length roofed over and used as a henhouse, the final indignitity for this splendid machine. <BR><BR> Today, however, the building has been uroofed, the floor has been excavated and red and white pegs mark the line of a track leading down to the main road - it appears that something grander is in store for this distinctive building. The present owner, a Mr. James, has begun to rebuild the mill, which he intends to use as a dwelling house with the same appearance as the original, using the brick base as a starting point. </p> <table><tr> <td valign=top align=justify>It is an unusual and ambitious project, and has a flavour of the Victorian spirit of gentrified 'restoration' about it. However, it is an interesting concept, and the re-creation of a local landmark continues apace. James' team have already removed the roof and excavated the floor and intend to start further works soon. His project <a href=http://www.ockleywindmill.co.uk/ target=blank>website</a> gives further details of his vision and news on progress made so far. <BR> On the West slope of the hill is this severely dilapidated henhouse. Inside is a mess and far from pleasant, the floor is littered with bottles, jars and sheet iron and rows of battery cages are arranged on roughly built trestles at each end. The air is thick with dust and a pervasive smell of dry bird manure and the slightest movement dislodges fine dust from every surface. It's not a place to stay for too long, so I didn't. This building is to be removed as part of restoration work, and the land returned to arable. For once, no-one is complaining. <br> <center> <a href="#" onClick="window.open('mapelmer.htm','', 'width=330,height=220,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,status=no,toolbar=no,menubar=no');return false;" HREF="mapelmer.htm"><u><font size=3>Click here to open a sketch map of the site.</u></A> </center></td><td width=370 align=center> <a href="#" onClick="window.open('industrial/PIC_0066.jpg','', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=yes,status=no,toolbar=no,menubar=no');return false;" > <img alt="Makeshift curtains." src="industrial/th_PIC_0066.jpg" border=0> </A> <a href="#" onClick="window.open('industrial/PIC_0061_001.jpg','', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,status=no,toolbar=no,menubar=no');return false;" > <img alt="Along the length of the shed." src="industrial/th_PIC_0061.jpg" border=0> </a><br> <a href="#" onClick="window.open('industrial/PIC_0062.jpg','', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,status=no,toolbar=no,menubar=no');return false;" > <img alt="A jumble of things inside." src="industrial/th_PIC_0062.jpg" border=0> </a> <a href="#" onClick="window.open('industrial/PIC_0070_001.jpg','', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,status=no,toolbar=no,menubar=no');return false;" > <img alt="Battery cages." src="industrial/th_PIC_0070.jpg" border=0> </a> </center> </td></tr></table> <br> EPILOGUE: The derelict henhouse has since been demolished, and in 2009 the mill was nearing completion. For the first time in over 60 years, the distinctive outline of the mill is visible from nearby Leith Hill and soon Elmer's sweeps will turn again over Ockley. <center> <br> <font size=1></b> <U>SOURCES OF INFORMATION</U> <br> James, P. (2006) "Ockley Windmill" Available at: http://www.ockleywindmill.co.uk/Index.htm Accessed: 19/06/06 <br><br> "Ordnance Survey of England (Third Edition) Horsham." (1908) Southampton, Ordnance Survey Office <br> <br> <center></font><b> <a href="index.html">Home..</a></b><br> <br> </td><td width=13></td></tr></table> </TD></TR><TR><TD bgcolor="#EEE9E9" ALIGN=CENTER> <font size=1>Derelict Miscellany. Website &amp; content Copyright D. A. Gregory 2005-Present unless stated to be otherwise.</font> </td></tr></table> </font> </body> </html>