Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II listed building. Main construction periods 1810 to 1850. A windmill was built at Capton pumping station in 1863 by millwrights G.Spray and G.Harmer. The mill was used as an addition to the main pumping plant pumping water from the well below to supply surrounding land. In a normal year the mill raised many million gallons of water. It was in use by wind until approximately 1930 when the sweeps were removed and the cap replaced by a 6,000 gallon water storage tank. Water pumped into here by electricity supplied nearby houses until a few years ago when it was abandoned with the establishment of a larger pumping station and reservoir. The pumping machinery within the mill has been removed the tower now being used for storage purpose only

Monument Types

• WINDMILL (Post Medieval to Modern - 1810 AD to 2050 AD)
• ENGINE HOUSE (Modern - 1914 AD? to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TR 05 NW 23:
TR014596 A windmill was built at Capton pumping station in 1863 by millwrights G,Spray and G.Harmer. The mill was used as an addition to the main pumping plant pumping water from the well below to supply surrounding land. In a normal year the mill raised many million gallons of water. It was in use by wind until approximately 1930 when the sweeps were removed and the cap replaced by a 6,000 gallon water storage tank. Water pumped into here by electricity supplied nearby houses until a few years ago when it was abandoned with the establishment of a larger pumping station and reservoir. The pumping machinery within the mill has been removed the tower now being used for storage purpose only (1)

Listing description states that the windmill was built in 1830.

Mpp survey : Built by a German firm brick built now missing cap and sails. Iron water tank at summit.(2)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
ASHFORD ROAD 1. 1103 (West Side)
Copton Windmill TR 0159 13/203 II
2. Circa 1830. Tower type. Brick. Cap and sails now missing. Iron water storage tank at summit. Built by a German firm and originally used to pump water.
Listing NGR: TR0129459544 (3)

<1> West, J., 1973, The Windmills of Kent, Windmills of Kent 1979 91 (J.West) (Monograph). SKE7965.

<2> Trent and Peak Archaeological Unit, 2002, Water & Sewage Industries Step 3 Report, Kent 3 (Unpublished document). SKE8085.

<3> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading