Matching Mill

TL 51 SW MATCHING HARLOW ROAD Matching Mill 3/45 II

Roundhouse of post mill, C19, converted to smithy c.1882. Walls of soft red bricks with lime mortar, Flemish bond, thickness 0.33 metre to height of 0.80 metre, thickness 0.23 metre to height of 2.50 metres. Octagonal pyramidal roof of handmade red clay tiles terminating in an octagonal louvre. 2 original windows with segmental arches to NE and SW. 2 original doors, of conventional size to SE with segmental arch over, NW door 1 metre wide, in upper and lower halves, brick arch missing. Forge in centre with bellows intact. The tithe award of 1843shows the buildings on site as at present, described as 'Windmill, cottage and garden', owner and occupier Charles Martin (Essex Record Office D/CT 236). The 6" OS map surveyed in 1881 describes it as 'Matching Mill (Corn)' but the edition revised in 1895 identifies the roundhouse as 'Smithy'. White's Directory of 1848 describes Charles Martin as ' Farmer (and miller)'. Kelly's Directories from 1859 to 1878 list George Bennett, corn miller, but by 1882 no miller is recorded. Thus there was still a windmill on the site until 1881, but it was converted to a smithy very shortly afterwards. The roundhouse is not strong enough to support the cross trees of a late post mill, as at Ramsey, Essex, so it was built for storage round the existing sub-structure of a post mill, the walls being thicker at the base to resist the pressure of sacks. The missing arch of the larger door, which never carried any substantial weight, indicates how the main post was brought down without disturbing the walls.

Listing NGR: TL5049411156