STOCK AND SWEEPS PROJECT
The maintenance work carried out on Jill Windmill by our volunteers is scheduled over a repeating seven year cycle. Sweeps I and III were removed by crane for inspection, refurbishment and painting. The crane was hired from Coussens of Bexhill Limited, who kindly discounted their hire charges in recognition of our charitable status

With the Sweeps on the ground, we inspected the wooden Stock to which the Sweeps were attached, and discovered that parts of the Stock were rotten. Our options were to replace the rotten sections of the Stock or to purchase a new Stock. When we purchased a new Stock in the 1980s [to support Sweeps II and IV] it was fabricated in metal to our specifications. This time however, in common with many other windmills in the UK, we have decided that the replacement Stock will be made from laminated timber, imported from Denmark.

	The Stock is held in place in the Canister by two wooden Cheeks. These Cheeks needed to be removed before the Stock could be lowered, so scaffolding was erected by Independent Scaffolding of Brighton.

On the next Saturday the bolts retaining the Stock were lubricated, the Spider was removed and the Striking Rod was pushed back as far as possible.
The Spider

The Cheeks were lowered to the ground

Loosening the clamps that retain the Stock

The Striking Rod before drilling the hole

On the following Saturday a hole was drilled through the weatherboarding at the rear of the Mill in order that the Striking Rod could be pushed back enough to clear the Stock.

In very windy conditions the Stock [33 feet long, weight approximately 1200 pounds] was gently lowered to the ground with ropes, a pulley and a Tirfor winch.

Given enough rope ! !

	To our surprise, it proved to be quite a challenge to dislodge the thin timber wedges between the Stock and the Canister, which were sufficient in themselves to hold the Stock in place even after all the bolts had been loosened and the Stock had been positioned vertically.

Moving the new Stock

The new laminated Stock was delivered in early July. The Stock, made from Siberian Larch, was constructed for us by Lilleheden Ltd, based in Denmark, who have fabricated components for many windmills including Oldland, Shipley and Chesterton.

The new Stock was placed next to the old Stock so that we could easily transfer measurements and determine the position of drilled holes and mortices. The laminated sections can be clearly seen on this photograph.

After painting, the Shutters are placed on racks to dry

The vast majority of the Shutters have been painted. The shutters are being painted off site in a local garage. This work is normally done when rain prevents us from working outside on the Sweeps.

The Stock was given a coat of priming paint on the day following delivery. The next stage was to drill holes for the Striking Rod and Sweep bolts as well as cutting mortices to accomodate the Sweep clamps.

Painting the Stock

The new Stock placed on top of the old one. Three wedges were pre-fitted to the side of the Stock.

Further coats of paint were applied to the new Stock when weather permitted. The shutters were brought back on site and were fitted into the Sweeps. The Stock was moved to the front of the site using the old Stock as a 'sledge'. Rather than dispose of the old Stock, we have decided to retain it and to use it as a somewhat unusual bench !

In mid August the Stock was hung with the aid of a crane hired from Coussens of Bexhill Limited, who again kindly discounted their hire charges in recognition of our charitable status. See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. . . . well, one of those three maybe !
Guiding the Striking Rod through the Canister

In September scaffolding was erected by Independent Scaffolding of Brighton to enable us to fit the two Stock Cheeks. The Stock Cheeks were lifted with a Tirfor Winch, ropes and pulleys. Once in place the holes were drilled through the Stock for the bolts that hold the Clamps in place.

Upper Stock Cheek in place. Ropes around the lower Cheek prior to lifting	Drilling holes for the bolts
More drilling !	Tightening the bolts
Stock Cheeks in place - what a view !
More painting ! !

Following the fitting of the Stock Cheeks, further coats of paint were applied to the Stock and Canister.

The project was completed on the last Saturday of September with the re-hanging of the Sweeps.

Hanging the Sweeps	Hanging the Sweeps
Hanging the Sweeps	Hanging the Sweeps
Hanging the Sweeps	Hanging the Sweeps
Hanging the Sweeps	Hanging the Sweeps
Hanging the Sweeps	Hanging the Sweeps
Hanging the Sweeps	Hanging the Sweeps

Some members of The Saturday Gang on a lunch break    Click here for details of our other Millwrighting and Maintenance work.