Garden windmill to light up house

From the archive, first published Saturday 11th Sep 1999.

IT'S not everyone's solution to saving money on the electricity bill.

But for techno wizard Tony Smith the way forward was simple.

He has built himself a fully operational windmill in his own back garden.

After 12 painstaking years, Tom's masterpiece, a scaled down copy of a classical windmill, is complete.

And now he's preparing to connect its four picturesque sails to an alternator, which, he says, will generate enough power to light up his house free.

He hopes eventually to be able to generate enough electricity to power the rest of the home.

Tony, 59, is no stranger to the world of alternative science. Until recently, he taught science at schools and colleges across East Sussex and he has also set up an alternative science society.

As well as the 25ft high windmill Tony has also invented a working solar cooker.

To keep his new power supply completely green, Tom recycled everyday items instead of buying new hi-tech materials.

He used old bed irons and a dismantled horse box to make the sails, and the main axle from a Post Office van to link them to the windmill's internal mechanism.

Tom said: "I have always been interested in windmills. Before this one, I built a modern windmill on a steel tower but I decided it was too ugly and so I built one that is a half-size model of the few remaining traditional windmills in Sussex.

"I believe this is the way forward for electricity in the countryside. People are very happy to accept the look of a windmill like this, but are less happy with the modern, two and three blade windmills that are used to generate power.

"I had great difficulty getting the design past the planners because our house is in an area of outstanding natural beauty. I had to appeal and think in the end the planners realised that so many windmills in

Sussex have disappeared."

Tony, who runs a horse rescue centre with his wife, Dinty, at their home in Brown Bread Street, near Battle, will connect the windmill to an alternator shortly. That, he says, will be the easy bit.

"Hooking up the alternator will not be too difficult. But it will take some time to refine the windmill's turning action and make sure it is working just right. It will not generate a great deal of electricity at first because to do that you have to compromise the windmill's design for efficiency.

"But it should give enough power to light up the house while at the same time grinding down oats

for the animal rescue centre."

Tom, who has two grown up children, applied, unsuccessfully, for grants from groups including the Rural Development Agency but ended up funding the mill himself.

However, he now hopes others will consider setting up their own similar power supplies with windmills in other country areas.

Overall, Tony believes his windmill has cost less than £5,000.

He said: "I like to think of my windmill as a mark one, experimental device which could inspire other authorities to take it further. With a bit of investment it could be very efficient. My windmill could easily power the lights, the TV and the washing machine. Of course, it would have to be stored in batteries or when the wind dropped, the place would fall into darkness."

The windmill will be open to the public on September 19, from 11am to 4pm, during an open day to raise money for the horse rescue centre. For details call 01424 892381.