Messing Maypole Mill
Windmill in Tiptree, Essex, England
title: "Messing Maypole Mill" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["windmills-in-essex", "history-of-essex", "grade-ii-listed-buildings-in-essex", "tower-mills-in-the-united-kingdom", "grinding-mills-in-the-united-kingdom", "buildings-and-structures-completed-in-1775", "windmills-completed-in-the-18th-century", "grade-ii-listed-windmills", "tiptree"] description: "Windmill in Tiptree, Essex, England" topic_path: "history" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messing_Maypole_Mill" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Windmill in Tiptree, Essex, England ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox Windmill"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Tiptree Mill |
| image | Messing Maypole mill.jpg |
| image_size | 250px |
| caption | The converted mill, March 2006 |
| name_of_mill | Messing Maypole Tree |
| location_of_mill | |
| coordinates | |
| operator | Private |
| built | 1775 |
| purpose | Corn mill |
| type | Tower mill |
| storeys | Four storeys |
| sail_number | Four sails |
| sail_type | Double Patent sails |
| windshaft | Cast iron |
| winding | Fantail |
| auxpower | steam engine, then electric motor |
| pairs_of_millstones | Three pairs |
| :: |
|name = Tiptree Mill |image = Messing Maypole mill.jpg |image_size = 250px |caption = The converted mill, March 2006 |name_of_mill =Messing Maypole Tree |location_of_mill = |coordinates = |operator =Private |built =1775 |purpose =Corn mill |type =Tower mill |storeys =Four storeys |sail_number =Four sails |sail_type =Double Patent sails |windshaft =Cast iron |winding =Fantail |fantail_blades = |auxpower =steam engine, then electric motor |pairs_of_millstones=Three pairs |stone_size = |other =
Messing Maypole Mill is a grade II listed Tower mill at Tiptree, Essex, England which has been converted to a residence. Prior to boundary changes made when the civil parish of Tiptree was established in 1934, the mill was in the parish of Tolleshunt Knights.
History
Messing Maypole Mill was built in 1775 by Colchester millwright John Mathett at a cost of £315 excluding the brickwork. Matchett also rebuilt a post mill which stood some 190 yd south west of the tower mill (TL 894 167) and sum of £315 may include that work. Matchett owned the mill until it was purchased by miller Thomas Green in 1797. The mill passed to Edward Harvey on Green's death in 1806. Harvey died in 1829 and in 1829 the mill was purchased by miller James Peake. Peake was declared bankrupt in 1845 and the mill sold by his assignees. George Ransom was the next miller, and he introduced steam power. After the death of Ransom in 1884 the mill was run by his widow for a few years and then by Henry Cattermole. Bryant may have added the fantail at this time. Milling continued until at least 1962, although the millstones were removed in 1960. Power latterly was by electricity. The mill was converted into a residence in 1969.
Description
Messing Maypole Mill is a four-storey brick tower mill with a domed cap. When built it had four Common sails carried on a wooden windshaft and was winded by hand. There was a stage at first-floor level. The tower is 27 ft diameter at base level, decreasing to 14 ft at curb level. Height of the tower is 42 ft to curb and the mill stands 55 ft to the base of the finial on the cap, which was latterly winded by a fantail carried over the rear extension which housed the hand winding apparatus. The brickwork is 4 ft thick at base level and 22 in thick at curb level.
The 10 ft diameter wooden Brake Wheel is of clasp arm construction, converted from compass arm. It has 72 cogs and is carried on a cast-iron windshaft which formerly carried four double Patent sails. The brake wheel drove a wooden Wallower carried on a 31 ft long wooden Upright Shaft. The 9 ft diameter wooden Great Spur Wheel is of compass arm construction with 84 cogs. The mill latterly drove three pairs of millstones.
Millers
- Thomas Green 1776–1806
- James Peake 1806–1848
- George D Ransom 1848–1884
- Mrs. Ransom 1884–1887
- Henry Cattermole 1887–c1911
- Frederick King 1922–1937
References for above:-
References
References
- {{NHLE
- Farries, Kenneth. (1985). "Essex Windmills, Millers and Millwrights - Volume Four - A Review by Parishes, F-R". Charles Skilton.
- Farries, Kenneth. (1988). "Essex Windmills, Millers and Millwrights - Volume Five - A Review by Parishes, S-Z". Charles Skilton.
- Farries, Kenneth. (1982). "Essex Windmills, Millers and Millwrights - Volume Two – A Technical Review". Charles Skilton.
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::