Moses Montefiore Windmill
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| Moses Montefiore Windmill | |
 Moses Montefiore Windmill |
|
| Origin | |
|---|---|
| Mill location | Jerusalem, Israel |
| Year built | 1857 |
| Information | |
| Purpose | Corn mill |
| Type | Tower mill |
| Storeys | Four storeys |
| Number of sails | Four sails |
| Type of sails | Patent sails |
| Windshaft | Cast iron |
| Winding | Fantail |
| Fantail blades | Six blades |
| Number of millstone pairs | Two pairs |
The Moses Montefiore Windmill or Jaffa Gate Windmill is a landmark windmill in Jerusalem, Israel. Built in the Yemin Moshe neighborhood of Jerusalem in 1857, which was then in Ottoman-ruled Palestine, it is 59 feet (18 m) high, and at that time the windmill was an ultra-modern one for grinding grain into flour.[1] It would continue to be used until steam-powered mills made it obsolete.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Early history
The windmill was funded by Jewish philanthropist Moses Montefiore who donated large sums of money to promote industry, education and health. Montefiore left an indelible mark on the Jerusalem landscape with the windmill in Yemin Moshe, named after him, which was the first Jewish neighborhood built outside the Old City walls. The funding came from the estate of an American Jew, Judah Touro, who appointed Montefiore executor of his will. The project, bearing the hallmarks of nineteenth century artisanal revival, aimed to promote productive enterprise in the Yishuv. With Montefiore's funding, the windmill and adjacent cottages and almshouses opposite the Old City were able to be built.[1] The mill was built by Messrs Holman Brothers, the Canterbury, Kent millwrights. The stone for the tower was quarried locally. The tower has walls 3 feet (910 mm) thick at the base and is almost 50 feet (15.24 m) high. During construction of the mill, the parts were landed at Jaffa with great difficulty as there were no suitable facilities for landing the heavy machinery. Transport of the various pieces to Jerusalem was by camel. As originally built, the mill had a Kentish style cap and four Patent sails. It was winded by a fantail. The mill drove two pairs of millstones, flour dressers, wheat cleaners and other machinery.[2]
In a book published in 1933 two anecdotes are told surrounding the windmill's construction. The first is that there was much opposition from among the local millers to the windmill, who looked upon it with the evil eye, sending their head man to curse it. Predictions were made that the mill would be washed away during the rainy season, and after it survived intact, it was declared to be the work of Satan. The second is that the Arabs developed a taste for the lubricating oil and would lick the bearings to get at it, prompting fear that the mill would burn down due to bearings running dry. A solution was found by placing a leg of pork in the oil barrel and the Arabs were said to have lost their taste for oil after that.[2]
These activities were part of a broader program to enable the Jews of Palestine to become self supporting in anticipation of the establishment of a Jewish homeland. In addition to the windmill (to provide cheap flour to poor Jews), he built a printing press and textile factory, and helped to finance several agricultural colonies. He also attempted to acquire land for Jewish cultivation, but was hampered by Ottoman restrictions on land sale to non-Muslims.
The mill was not a success due to a lack of wind.[3] The mill had ceased to work by 1891, and after that was used as a studio and a house. Another windmill stood at Rehia, and was of similar appearance, probably being modelled on the Moses Montefiore Mill.[2]
[edit] War of Independence
During the Israeli War of Independence the windmill served an observation point for Jewish fighters. In an attempt to impede the Israeli defence, the British authorities blew up the top of the windmill in an operation dubbed by the Jewish population "Operation Don Quixote".[1]
[edit] Today
Today, the Moses Montefiore Windmill is a museum dedicated to both the life and word of Moses Montefiore.[1] Next to the windmill they have a reconstruction of Montefiore's carriage.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f Trip Advisor: Jerusalem Moses Montefiore Windmill
- ^ a b c Coles Finch, William (1933). Watermills and Windmills. London: C W Daniel and Company. pp. p50-52.
- ^ "The Windless Windmill". ohr.edu. http://ohr.edu/yhiy/article.php/3390/html/rss/. Retrieved on 2008-11-12.
[edit] See also
Coordinates: 31°46′17.31″N 35°13′27.03″E / 31.771475°N 35.224175°E
