Toot Hill Windmill

The post mill at Toot Hill was probably erected in c1815. The following articles were taken from local newspapers.

On Thursday 18th June 1829, a terrible thunderstorm raged over the area of Ongar and Stanford Rivers. As the thunder clouds hovered over Toot Hill windmill there was a "hissing noise and sound like artillery" and then the smell of sulphur. Mrs Rayner, the miller's wife, was in her cottage when she heard the shrieks of her husband in the mill. She rushed outside to see the mill had been struck by lightning.

Mr Rayner's nephew and others came to the rescue and the miller, Joseph Knight, was found on the second floor of the mill. His hair was singed, he had facial injuries, and his right leg was almost separated from the rest of his body.

Mr Potter, the Ongar surgeon, was called for and quickly arrived. With the assistance of several other professional gentlemen, he immediately amputated the leg.

It appears that the miller survived the ordeal and a print of the mill's destruction (see page 11), was sold locally to raise funds for the miller and his family as, no doubt, he was unable to work.

As for the mill, it had been struck on the sails cutting two of them off. The lightning then entered the mill demolishing the interior, thrusting two half-hundred weights out through the side of the mill. The roof was blown off, as was the weather boarding on it sides. It was left like a skeleton with its machinery exposed. The mill was repaired and operated until about 1904.
It was demolished in 1935.
Toot-hill Windmill in the News
Essex Standard 5 December 1851
Nov. 19th, aged 34, Hannah Lambert, the beloved wife of Mr George Lambert, Toot-hill Mill, Stanford Rivers, in this county

Essex Standard 20 January, 1860
Jan 11th at Lewisham, aged 34, Jane, wife of Mr. John Rippington, formerly of Toot Hill Mill, near Ongar.

Essex Herald, 18 March, 1862.
POST WINDMILL TO LET, situate at Toot Hill, Stanford Rivers, driving two pairs of stones: in a thorough state of repair, and capable of doing a good trade, with Cottage and convenient premises. Possession to be had at Lady-day next. For particulars apply to Mr Smith, Greenstead, Ongar.

Essex Herald, 14 May, 1872.
TO MASTER MILLERS – SITUATION WANTED, as UNDER STONEMAN or GENERAL MILLER. Apply E.C.R., Toot-hill Mill, Ongar.

Chelmsford Chronicle, 7 January 1887.
BUSINESS INTIMATION
H. SURRIDGE & SONS
HAY, STRAW, CORN, SEED, AND COAL
MERCHANTS
TOOT HILL MILL and ONGAR
BEG respectfully to inform the inhabitants of Ongar and surrounding district that they have SUCCEEDED to the BUSINESS lately carried on by Mr. WILLIAM BOOR, and hope by strict attention to orders entrusted to them to merit a continuance of their support.

Essex Herald, 29 December 1888
OUTBREAK OF SWINE FEVER – At the Ongar Petty Session on Saturday last, Inspector Robinson reported an outbreak of swine-fever on the premises of Mr. D. J. Surridge, Toot-hill Mill. Mr Surridge bought seven pigs at Epping market on the previous Friday and soon afterwards they were discovered to be suffering from swine fever and were slaughtered.
A FIRE. A fire occurred on the premises of Mr Surridge, at Toot-hill Mill, on Friday evening, Dec.21st. The outbreak occurred in a backroom of the Mill Hose, and was caused by the upsetting of a paraffin lamp by a child. The Ongar fire engine was on the spot in good time; but the flames had fortunately been extinguished by pails of water before its arrival.

Essex Herald 5 June, 1894

DROWNING FATALITY near ONGAR
On Wednesday afternoon the four-year old son of Mr Daniel Surridge, of Toot-hill Mill, Ongar, was missed from near the mill pond, where he had been playing. His mother went out to find him, but the only trace she could find was his wooden toys, which were floating on the water. Upon further search she found the body of the poor child in the water. With the assistance of a man named Barnard she got the body out, but it was found to be quite lifeless. It is conjectured that the child went to the pond to draw water in a squirt, when he fell in. At the inquest held by Mr Lewis last evening a verdict of “Accidentally drowned” was returned.

The Essex Chronicle 17 February, 1928.

TOOT HILL MILL ABLAZE
During the storm the old mill at Toot Hill, near Ongar, was struck by lightning and set on fire. The mill, which is owned by the Misses Price, has not been worked for 18 years, and is over 100 years old. It was struck by lightning 80 years ago. It was feared when it caught fire on Friday that a wooden cottage adjacent would become involved, but the Epping Fire Brigade attended so promptly that this was averted. There is only one sail to the mill, and this and the struts were damaged. After the brigade left flames broke out again and the foremen were again summoned.

The Owners/Millers of the Mill.
1815 ? Rayner
1832 Edward Rayner
1842 Edward Rayner
1851 John Crisford Rippington
1853 George Lambert
1858 Henry Moor
1860 J.S.A. Willis
1865 Daniel Surridge
1894 Daniel Surridge
1898 Comyns Owers