Reconstruction of the Windmill

The reconstruction of the windmill is not intended to be a precise replica of the original reconstruction but to be a wind generator that restores a prominent landmark. The form is intended to resemble, as closely as is practicable, the original construction but as a new construction it inevitably reflects the requirements and regulations of the period in which it is constructed.

The remains are not listed and before a new use was selected feasibility studies were undertaken on a number of alternative uses, including craft workshops. Only use as a dwelling proved to be financially viable. Planning consent was granted in 1997 for residential use and on the basis that local authority would support its use as a wind energy generator.
For most regulatory purposes it is considered as a new building. In respect of the Building Regulations this requires it to have a secondary means of escape. This is in the form of an escape ladder on the rear elevation of the smock. The projection of the ladder safety hoops requires the sails to be set away from the face of the smock.

The mill is very close to the site boundary and the Building Regulations require that the cladding materials close to the boundary are incombustible. Whilst a consent to use timber has been granted, the designer of the mill must still research the availability of incombustible alternatives under the CDM regulations. A fibre cement weather board with an impressed timber grain surface is currently being considered. Such a material has the advantage of being maintenance free and being naturally coloured white. As painting is not required it is a more environmentally benign in this respect and also avoids the need for maintenance to be undertaken at height, which again is a consideration under the CDM regulations. The anticipated life of the fibre cement weatherboards is in excess of fifty years.

In operating as a wind generator with automatic control the smock must have adequate strength to resist the two year return wind period even if, for example, it is tail-winded. Although this would be achievable with a traditional timber frame, a steel frame is more compact and allows greater internal space. The steel frame is anchored with tie rods to the foundations.
The sail length has been selected to give the maximum practicable swept area, the power generated being proportional to the square of the diameter of the sails. The diameter of 25 metres is considered to be in proportion and to be similar to the original mill. As the sails have had to be moved forward to avoid the escape ladder this presents a problem as they then foul the perimeter handrail to the reefing stage. To overcome this the windshaft height has been raised slightly by raising the curb.
Access to the fan tail gear is potentially a hazard which again the designed must consider under the CDM regulations. It is also necessary to provide a safe working method for lifting machinery into the cap. Although the traditional Kent fantail stage is inclined, a flat stage provides a simpler solution for both these requirements.