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Fowlers Mill: horizontal mill function:Corn mill|Oil mill
There are two distinct representations this mill. The (apparently) earlier one, seen in engravings such as the widely reproduced one from Old and New London, shows a roughly circular structure (though since we see 4 distinct "panels" this is clearly multi-sided), with a two storey base (unclear if this is wooden or brick), topped by a wooden super-structure which is approximately another 4 storeys high. The tower tapers slightly, and is topped with a conical roof, rising to a central lantern. In producing this engraving, this image may have been subjected to considerable artistic licence - Steven Buckland found what is presumably the original, about which he wrote
[Horizontal Mill ?Battersea] Crude, bleak, bare, talentless pen-&-ink wash sketch, 11 1/2" x 17 3/4" clearly finished on site (or drawn from memory?) n[ot] d[ated], anon, unidentified, in Guildhall Library's Grangerised Daniel Lysons, Environs... i/1 (1792) inserted under Battersea, between pp46-47 (f.99). Light pencil endorsement on verso, in a good 19th cent. copperplate "Battersea / Middlesex". Engraved, prettified, in Walford's Old & New London, (1887 etc) vi. p468. (Not, I think the Margate mill).The augmentation between the sketch and the engraving includes millstones leaning against the base, and much more defined detail to the conical roof and lantern. The existence of a conical roof in this image is suspicious - in all other representations, including the technical diagram in the encyclopedia, the roof is shown as flat, with just the lantern rising higher in the centre. We see 4 panels around the superstructure, suggesting just 8 in total, but the better representations show 6, being the view of a 12 sided construction, again throwing suspicions on the accuracy of this representation.
The second appearance of the mill is as shown on the Fowler's horizontal air mill trade card (and supported by the encyclopedia entry), where the wooden superstructure is seen upon a substantial rectangular building, with 5 windows per floor, symmetrically arranged with a central lucam over the entry door, with the whole building having a pitched roof. This building was presumably constructed around the existing base - it is also only 2 storeys high, but slightly hard to work out how two storeys and a pitched roof were built within the height of the existing 2 stories - perhaps the superstructure was raised when this building was constructed. In any case, the building in this representation would have allowed for a substantial increase in the milling and storage area available.
When constructed in 1788, the mill produced oil from linseed, but by about 1790 was already in use as a corn mill, and was used to produce malt for the distilleries.
On the site of Bolingbroke-house was erected, about two years ago, a horizontal air-mill of a new construction, and of very large dimensions: the shape of the dome or case which contains the moveable machine, is that of a truncated cone; being circular, of fifty-two feet diameter at the bottom, and forty-five feet at the top: the height of the main shaft is 120 feet; that is, forty feet from the floor to the bottom of the dome, and eighty feet thence to the top. The moveable machine is of the same shape, and nearly of the same dimensions as the dome; having just space to turn round within it: the extremities of this machine are called floats, as in the wheel of a water-mill; the pieces of wood which connect them with the main shaft, are called the arms; there are ninety-six floats, and the same number of shutters in the dome, which, when open, admit, even when there is little wind, a sufficient current of air to turn the machine, and, by a particular contrivance, shut when the wind is so violent as to endanger the structure. This mill, at its first erection, was used for preparing of oil; it is now used as a corn-mill, and is occupied by Messrs. Hodgson and Co.The second edition of this book, produced in 1811, changed the phrase "about two years ago" to the clearer "about the year 1788".
We can pull out other items of interest from these diagrams, particularly if we compare and contrast it with the similar diagram we have for Hooper's horizontal mill at Margate, published in Abraham Rees' Cyclopedia 1817.
WINDMILL, a kind of mill, the internal parts of which are much the same with those of a water-mill; from which, however, it differs in being moved by the impulse of the wind upon its vanes, or sails, which are to be considered as a wheel on the axle. There are various kinds of windmills. We shall content ourselves with describing the horizontal windmill, the construction of which is not so generally known as that of the others.
Plate Windmill, represents an horizontal windmill erected about 50 years ago at a distillery near Battersea, for grinding malt and corn. AA (fig. 1) is the main. shaft, - which turns on a gudgeon working in a socket supported by solid masonry: this shaft has several wheels, as BB, attached to its upper part, as shewn in fig. 2, for carrying a great number of float-boards DD, similar to a water-wheel, except being a little conical. This wheel is inclosed in a frame EE, composed of several circular rings, connected by upright timbers, and strengthened by transverse braces, and which has timbers across the top to support the upper gudgeon of the shaft AA. Within the frame EE, are a great number of boards extending from top to bottom, as shewn at FF: the boards turn on a centre at the edge nearest the wheel, so that they can be set open, as in fig. 2, or be shut up so as to touch one another, and to allow no air to pass between them.
When the boards FF are set, as in fig. 2, it will be evident, from inspecting the figure, that let the wind blow in any direction, it will always enter the building on one side, the other being in such a position that the wind cannot enter, and striking on the floats of the wheel will turn it round. The quantity of wind which strikes the wheel can be regulated by closing or opening the boards, FF, all at once, which is done by a contrivance, shewn in fig. 3. HH represents a plan of a part of the circular sill at the bottom of the frame EE, (figs. 1 and 2); FF are the wind-boards, which move on a centre at the edge f; the boards have levers, GG, nailed to their lower ends, by which they can be turned about on the centre; II are rods, joined to the levers GG; the other ends of which are jointed to a circular ring, of which KK is a segment: this ring rests upon rollers fixed in the floor beneath the sails.
When this ring is turned round one way, the rods II push the ends of the levers GG, and close up the boards; on the contrary, when it is turned the other way, it opens them.
The ring K has at one part of its under side a short cast iron segment with cogs, which work in a pinion, moving on centres fixed to the floor. The axis of this pinion goes through the mill and into the open air, and is connected by ropes with a handle below the ground-floor of the mill.
When the miller turns this handle, it also turns the ring K (fig. 3), and, as before described, opens or closes the boards. FF, and regulates the mill's velocity.
The main shaft, AA, has a large cog-wheel, O, fixed upon it, which turns two trundles on the shafts, LM, on which the wheels NN are also fixed: each of these wheels turns three pinions (only one of which is represented) on the axis of the mill-stones, which are arranged round the wheels NN, at proper intervals, like those described under the article Flour-Mill. The shaft L has a beveled wheel at its upper end, which turns another, m, on the shaft n; which has-riggers, as P, fixed on it, and by means of straps turns the bolting mills; for a description of which see FLOUR-MILL.
With regard to the common windmills, we must observe that a patent has lately been taken out by Mr. Sutton, for a peculiar construction of the sails. For a full account of these, we can with pleasure refer to a work entitled "A Sketch of the Properties and Advantages of Sutton's Patent Gravitated Sails for Windmills," by W. S. Heileden.
Battersea, or Patrick's-ea, is situated on the banks of the Thames, four miles from London. The manor, with, the advowson, were granted by king Stephen to the abbot and convent of Westminster, who had a perpetual vicar. They came into the hands of the crown at the Dissolution, and remained till Charles I. granted them to Sir Oliver St. John, ancestor of lord Bolingbroke, whose father sold them to the father of the present earl Spencer, now lord of the manor of Patricksea. Henry St. John viscount Bolingbroke, died here in 1751. The family seat was a venerable structure, which contained forty rooms on a floor; the greatest part of the house was pulled down in 1778.There seems to have been some inflation in the dimensions - the overall height is now 20ft more (at 140ft), and the cone lower diameter has increased by 2ft to 54ft. These discrepancies may be simple mistakes (there were a lot of 4s and 5s in the original description), though there is always a slight possibility that the tower had been altered after its original construction. We have here the information that there were 6 pairs of stones (with it seems plans to add 2 more).
[Engraving of the mill from the riverside, showing its second appearance above a rectangular building with lucam]
On the site of the demolished part, are erected an horizontal air mill, and malt distillery. The part left standing forms a dwelling house; one of the parlours, fronting the Thames, is lined with cedar, beautifully inlaid, and was the favourite study of Pope, the scene of many a literary conversation between him and his friend Bolingbroke. The mill now used for grinding malt for the distillery, was built for the grinding of linseed. The design was taken from that of another, on a smaller scale, constructed at Margate. Its height, from the foundation, is one hundred and forty feet; the diameter of the conical part fifty-four feet at the base, and forty-five at the top. The outer part consists of ninety-six shutters, eighty feet high, and nine inches broad, which, by the pulling of a rope, open and shut in the manner of Venetian blinds. In the inside, the main shaft of the mill is the centre of a large circle formed by the sails, which consist of ninety-six double planks, placed perpendicularly, and of the same height as the planks that form the shutters. The wind rushing through the openings of these shutters, acts with great power upon the sails, and, when it blows fresh, turns the mill with prodigious rapidity; but this may be moderated, in an instant, by lessening the apertures between the shutters; which is effected, like the entire stopping of the mill, as before observed, by the pulling of a rope. In this mill are six pair of stones, to which two pair more may be added. On the site of the garden and terrace, have been erected extensive bullock houses, capable of holding six hundred and fifty bullocks, fed with the grains from the distillery, mixed with meal.
I passed from the premises of Mr. Brunel, to the nearly adjoining ones of Mr. Hodgson, an intelligent maltster and distiller, and the proprietor of the elevated horizontal air-mill, which serves as a landmark for many miles round. But his mill, its elevated shaft, its vanes, and weather or wind boards, curious as they would have been on any other scite, lost their interest on premises once the residence of the illustrious Bolingbroke, and the resort of the philosophers of his day. In ascending the winding flights of its tottering galleries, I could not help wondering at the caprice of events which had converted the dwelling of Bolingbroke into a malting-house and a mill. This house, once sacred to philosophy and poetry, long sanctified by the residence of the noblest genius of his age, honoured by the frequent visits of Pope, and the birthplace of the immortal Essay on Man, is now appropriated to the lowest uses! The house of Bolingbroke become a windmill! The spot on which the Essay on Man was concocted and produced, converted into a distillery of pernicious spirits! Such are the lessons of time! Such are the means by which an eternal agency sets at nought the ephemeral importance of man! But yesterday, this spot was the resort, the hope, and the seat of enjoyment of Bolingbroke, Pope, Swift, Arbuthnot, Thomson, Mallet, and all the contemporary genius of England—yet a few whirls of the earth round the sun, the change of a figure in the date of the year, and the groupe have vanished; while in their place I behold hogs and horses, malt-bags and barrels, stills and machinery!
Topographical Dictionary, County of Surrey, c1822
On the site of the family mansion of Henry St. John Viscount Bolingbroke is a striking object, in a horizontal air or windmill, 140 feet high, in the shape of a cone, of which the average diameter is about 50 feet; it has six pairs of stones, and is used for grinding malt for the distilleries, and was originally intended for grinding linseed, on the plan of one at Margate. The main shaft of the mill is the centre of the circle, formed by sails, consisting of 96 double planks, nine inches broad, with as many shutters, 80 feet high, with apertures placed perpendicularly, through which the wind passes, and turns the mill with a rapidity, which is increased or diminished by opening or closing the shutters with a rope, in the manner of Venetian blinds. On these premises there were bullock houses, for 650 bullocks to be fed; but they are now taken down, and the site is converted into a nursery.
A brief description of the mill at Battersea: Mechanics Magazine, Volume 4, 1825
No 145 WIND LATHE
SIR - If your Correspondent, "E. B." is in the habit of visiting London, he may see a beautiful horizontal mill at Battersea. The sails consist of a large wheel, exactly like an undershot waterwheel, only much longer in the direction of the axis; this is placed with its axis vertical and is provided with a semi cylindrical case, revolving about the same axis, the diameter of which semi cylinder is adjusted to coincide with the direction of the wind. Thus one half the sails are exposed to the wind, and one half sheltered, and a rotatory motion is produced.
I am Sir Yours respectfully F. O. M.
BATTERSEA MILL MEMOIR OF THE INVENTOR CAPTAIN STEPHEN HOOPER
SIR In Number 109 page 399 of your interesting Miscellany a Correspondent has called the attention of your readers to the beautiful Horizontal Mill at Battersea. This circumstance has revived in my mind some pleasing recollections of the years that are past when I numbered the inventor of that ingenious piece of mechanism among my most valued and excellent friends and it has also suggested the idea that a short memorial of him and some of his inventions might not be unacceptable to the readers of the Mechanics Magazine.
The mill at Battersea was built under the direction of the inventor and patentee Capt Stephen Hooper a native of Sandwich in Kent. He was brought up to the sea and for many years commanded a West Indiaman chiefly in the Antigua trade. During his voyages he was in the habit of amusing his leisure hours in mechanical employments and like some of your Correspondents was once so certain that he had discovered the perpetual motion that at dinner time he declared that he would not take ten thousand pounds for his invention but before bed time he had discovered that it was not worth that number of farthings. In his horizontal mill he found more solid advantage for having left the sea and built a mill of this kind at Margate he and his sons carried on for many years an extensive business in the flour trade.
Though the horizontal mill is certainly a very ingenious contrivance and probably allows of the application of wind as a moving power to a greater extent than any other machine yet it has the same defect in its structure as the water wheel to which its interior bears a strong resemblance.
There is a considerable loss of power in consequence of the floats or as Mr Hooper called them the flyers moving before the impelling force and therefore being acted on according to the relative and not the actual velocity of the wind. Few of these mills have been erected probably owing to the expense of so lofty a structure which if not built with very great care and skill like that at Battersea will be extremely liable to injury.
There were other inventions of Captain Hooper which have rendered this most excellent and ingenious man a benefactor to the mechanical and manufacturing part of the community. He was the inventor of those vanes for wind mills which contract or extend the clothes in proportion to the increase or diminution of the wind. The same object has since been accomplished by means differing from those he employed but the thought and exetion were originally his.
But there is another invention of Mr Hooper's which has been introduced into almost every piece of machinery whose moving power is subject to changes affecting the velocity of the engine. When Mr Hooper first entered on the mealing business it was esteemed necessary to have a man to superintend every pair of stones and to adjust by the screw their distance according to the ever varying motion of the wind mill. Though not yet well acquainted with the niceties of the flour manufacture he was convinced that this service might be performed more accurately and more economically by the mill itself. It was however long before he could accomplish his object; accident at length led to the completion of his wishes. Walking in the neighbourhood of Ramsgate he picked up a stone and having tied it in the corner of his handkerchief he was amusing himself by giving it a rotatory motion parallel to the horizon when he observed that in proportion to its velocity it endeavoured to extend its orbit and to rise to a level with his hand. This immediately suggested the idea of the flying balls which not only answered the purpose sought by Mr Hooper but have become an almost universal regulator of motion in every species of machinery. The discovery would probably have been productive of considerable pecuniary advantage to him had he not been most dishonourably deprived of his patent by a counter claim to the invention advanced by a person resident in the same place and who I was told was afterwards discovered to have bribed one of Mr Hooper's work men to allow him to look through the key-hole of the private room in which was situated the regulator that governed the five pair of stones in the horizontal mill.
In the time of scarcity which occured about the year 1801 Mr Hooper met with some very unpleasant circumstances from the unquiet spirit which is always manifested by John Bull when he is either hungry or fears he shall be. On one occasion it was only by the prompt exertions of a body of cavalry that Mr H and his family were preserved from destruction. Upon this he offered the use of his mills to the Magistrates for the convenience of the town but declined business on his own account as having become both unprofitable and dangerous. Shortly after this he sold his property at Margate and went to reside at Walworth near London where for some time he pursued his mechanical amusements and formed many very ingenious and interesting models which from his situation and time of life he never had the opportunity of applying to any useful purpose. He died at a very advanced age leaving in the breasts of all who knew him a most pleasing remembrance not only of his mechanical genius but of the more important qualities of ardent piety and genuine benevolence.
To return to the horizontal mill Your Correspondent has very accurately represented the internal mechanism by comparing it to a large water wheel whose shaft is perpendicular to the horizon but if he will more clearly inspect the exterior he will find his idea relative to the semi cylindrical case revolving about the same axis quite erroneous. The exterior is a circle exactly similar to a Venetian blind each shutter being capable of being brought into contact with its neighbour so as to exclude the wind entirely or of being so opened as to admit a full breeze to fall upon the flyers or floats of the internal wheel. It is evident that one side of this structure will admit the current of air while the other will be impenetrable and that this will be the case let the wind change in any direction whatever. By a very ingenious contrivance Mr Hooper at first enabled the mill to regulate its own velocity by closing or opening the shutters as the wind increased or diminished its force. But as this machinery was apt to get out of order he discontinued the use of it in his own mill and left the regulation of the speed to the vigilance of the workmen.
I am Sir Your obedient servant, Q
PS The mill at Margate has recently been pulled down after having been materially injured by the gales to which it was exposed, from its elevated situation on the cliff.
"Do you not remember, papa, when we were last in London, you pointed out to us a curious mill on the banks of the river which went without any sails?"The Builder 1876-12-16: Vol 34 Iss 1767, I suspect serializing a book from somewhere else, names another person, Charles Mathews (elder) as the source of the story, and since he was a comedian/actor who died in 1835, that would predate the publication by Paris
"You allude to the horizontal mill at Battersea."
"I remember it was at Battersea," observed Louisa; "and I dare say, papa, that you recollect the strange story which the waterman, who rowed us down the river, told Tom and myself. He said 'that, when the Emperor of Russia was in London, he took a fancy to the neat little church at Battersea, and determined to carry it off to Russia; and that for this purpose he had sent a large packing-case; but, as the inhabitants refused to let the church be carried away, the case remained on the spot where it was deposited.'"
"It is not a bad story" said her father "for the mill certainly both in size and figure may be imagined to resemble a gigantic packing-case. The mill, of which you are speaking has been taken down in consequence of its use having been superseded by the introduction of steam. It was erected by Captain Hooper who also built a similar one at Margate. It consisted of a circular wheel having large boards or vanes fixed parallel to its axis, and arranged at equal distance from each other. Upon these vanes the wind could act so as to blow the wheel round; but had it acted upon the vane at both sides of the wheel at once it is evident that it could not have had any tendency to turn it round; hence one side of the wheel was sheltered, while the other was submitted to the full action of the wind. For this purpose it was enclosed within a large cylindrical framework furnished with doors or shutters, on all sides, to open at pleasure and admit the wind, or to shut and stop it. If all the shutters on one side were open, whilst all those on the opposite side were closed, the wind, acting with undiminished force on the vanes at one side, whilst the opposite vanes were under shelter, turned the mill round; but whenever the wind changed, the disposition of the blinds was altered, to admit the wind to strike upon the vanes of the wheel in the direction of a tangent to the circle in which they moved."
The elder Charles Mathews said that Battersea steeple being of copper was coveted by the Emperor of Russia for an extingaisher, and that the horizontal windmill (which was erected about 1788 on the site of Bolingbroke House) was a case for it. His Imperial Majesty intended to take them with him, but left them behind from forgetfulness.The story does not appear in his volumes 1, 2 or 4 of his memoirs. I have been unable to check volume 3.
The greater part of Bolingbroke House was taken down in 1778. In the wing of the mansion, left standing, a parlour of round form, and lined with cedar, was long pointed out as the apartment in which Pope composed his Essay on Man; it is said to have been called "Pope's Parlour." The walls may still be seen, but they support a new roof, and can only be distinguished from the rest of the building by their circular form. The mansion was very extensive — forty rooms on a floor. Upon part of the site was erected, a horizontal mill, by Captain Hooper, who also built a similar one at Margate. It consisted of a circular wheel, with large boards or vanes fixed parallel to its axis, and arranged at equal distances from each other. Upon these vanes the wind could act, so as to blow the wheel round. But if it were to act upon the vanes at both sides of the wheel at once, it could not, of course, turn it round; hence one side of the wheel must be sheltered, while the other was submitted to the fall action of the wind. For this purpose it was enclosed in a large cylindrical framework, with doors or shutters on all sides, to open and admit the wind, or to shut and stop it. If all the shutters on one side were open, whilst all those on the opposite side were closed, the wind acting with undiminished force on the vanes at one side, whilst the opposite vanes are under shelter, turned the mill round; but whenever the wind changed, the disposition of the blinds must be altered, to admit the wind to strike upon the vanes of the wheel in the direction of a tangent to the circle in which they moved. — (Dr. Paris's Philosophy in Sport.)
[The packing case story, actually attributed to Paris, but in such a way as the attribution appears to apply to the previous sentences, not to the story itself]
This horizontal air-mill served as a landmark for many miles round: the proprietor was Mr. Hodgson, a maltster and distiller. It was visited by Sir Richard Phillips in his Morning's Walk from London to Keiv, in 1813, who says : [Long extract from Phillips, the mill related bit of which has already been given above]
[Via a footnote] The upper part of the mill was taken down; the lower part is still used for grinding corn. The situation of the old mansion is indicated by the names of Bolingbroke-gardens and Bolingbroke-terrace.
From All About Battersea, Henry S. Simmond, 1882:
On the site of the demolished part of Bolingbroke House, a horizontal Air Mill was erected in 1790, of a conical form, 140 feet in height, and having a mean diameter of 50 feet; it was 54 feet at the base and 45 at the top. It was originally applied to the grinding of linseed for oil, and subsequently by Messrs. Hodgson, Weller and Allaway, of malt for the Distilleries, which were at that time in extensive operation here. Mr. Thomas Fowler erected this mill, the design was taken from that of another on a smaller scale, constructed at Margate by Capt. Hooper.[I have been unable to work out which author and document is meant by "Capper", but clearly this description is the one from David Hughson's Circuit of London.]
... [almost verbatim quotes from Philosopy in Sport given above, describing the vanes, and relating the packing crate story] ...
The Mill served as a landmark for miles around, being more conspicuous an object at that time than the lofty square tower of Watney's Distillery a little further westward is now. At length the upper part of the Mill was taken down; the lower part is still used for grinding corn. Capper, referring to this Mill, says, "it had 96 shutters, which though only 9 inches broad, reached to the height of 80 feet; these by means of a rope, opened and shut in the manner of Venetian blinds. In the inside, the main shaft of the Mill was the centre of a large circle formed by the sails, which consisted of 96 double planks placed perpendicularly, and the same height as the shutters; through these shutters the wind passing turned the Mill with great rapidity, which was increased or diminished by opening or shutting the apertures. In it were six pairs of stones, in which two pair more might be added. Adjacent were Bullock Houses capable of holding 650 bullocks, which were fed with the grains and meal from the Distilleries."
Old and New London, Vol VI, Edward Walford, 1887
[engraving of the mill, together with surrounding buildings, captioned "OLD BATTERSEA Mill, ABOUT 1800 (From a Contemporary Drawing.)"]
[mostly verbatim copy of the mill description from Hughson's "Circuit of London", with an edit to note it is from 1808]
The above-mentioned mill (see page 468) has long been removed, or, at any rate, considerably altered, and a flour-mill now occupies the site.
[retelling of the packing case story, wrongly attributed to John Timbs, supposedly in his "Curiosities of London" whereas it's actually retold in "Nook and Corners"]"
Entry in Mills Archive database - #11433 - Fowler's Horizontal Mill, Battersea (has photos)
[London Picture Archive] [London Picture Archive] [London Picture Archive]Horizonal Mill, 1788, dismantled c1825. Operated as an oil seed mill between 1788 and 1792.
The River Thames at Battersea, London, 1795. View of Battersea, the River Thames and Chelsea from East Wandsworth, showing farm animals and the surrounding countryside.
| Last updated 02/02/2026 | Text and images © Mark Berry, 1997-2026 - |
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