Rock Mill. A Windmill in Storrington, W.Sussex

Rock Mill, Storrington, West Sussex

We were asked to carry out a measured building and topographical survey of Rock Mill, a five-storey windmill near Storrington in West Sussex, to support proposals for its refurbishment.

The windmill was in a severely deteriorated condition when we visited. Boarded windows and weathered external cladding concealed an interior with damaged wall finishes and exposed timber framing. Temporary props supported beams in places, making careful planning of the survey and access particularly important.

The building’s unusual geometry added to the challenge. Its eight-sided tower narrows as it rises, with sloping walls and timber braces shaping the spaces within. The adjoining accommodation introduced further changes in level, so recording how each part of the building related to the next was an important part of the brief.

We produced detailed floor plans covering all five levels of the tower, together with plans of the adjoining accommodation. External elevations recorded the building’s form and openings, while two sections showed the relationship between the floors, roof and surrounding ground.

Our survey also included a separate outbuilding and a topographical survey of the grounds, placing the windmill and its associated buildings within the context of the site.

Together, these drawings gave the design team a measured record of the property before refurbishment. The sections were especially useful in explaining the vertical arrangement of a building whose shape and floor levels could be difficult to understand from photographs alone.

Following a successful planning application, the windmill is now undergoing major refurbishment. We are pleased to have provided the survey information that helped the design team develop proposals for the next chapter of this distinctive West Sussex building.