The Willans central-valve engine is a vertical high-speed single-acting steam engine designed by the British engineer P. W. Willans, and later patented by him in 1884 and 1885. [1] The engine, which was built in single, double or triple compound versions, was a vertical arrangement of four cylinders, these being (from the top) high-pressure, intermediate-pressure and low-pressure steam, and a further guide cylinder at the base. The diameter of the cylinders increased as the steam pressure decreased. Within these cylinders was a line of four pistons, connected by a hollow piston rod. Steam distribution to the cylinders was controlled by piston valves moving within the piston rod. The piston moving in the guide cylinder had the function of damping the upward motion of the piston assembly by compressing air in the guide cylinder. Two identical connecting rods ran from the guide piston to a crank on the crankshaft. Between them ran a connecting rod for the piston valves. The motion for the piston valves was derived from an eccentric integral with the crank-pin of the piston connecting rods.

Citations edit

  1. ^ Derry 1993, p. 336

References edit

Bridges,Tim; Mundy, Charles (1996). Worcester: A Pictorial History. Chichester, Sussex: Phillimore. ISBN 0-85033-990-1

  • Derry, Thomas Kingston; Williams, Trevor Illtyd (1993). A short history of technology: from the earliest times to A.D. 1900. Dover: Dover Publications. ISBN 0-486274-721.

The de Appleby family edit

Sir Edmund de Appleby fought in the Battle of Crecy in 1346. He also financed the enlargement of Appleby Magna Church (Saint Michael's and All Angels) to its current size. Sir Edmund and his wife Joan are buried in the de Appleby Chapel, in alabaster tombs. Sir George de Appleby, was killed in Scotland following the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh. His wife, Joyce, left a widow, she accepted the hand in marriage of Thomas Lewis of Mancetter near Atherstone. He was a Roman Catholic. Joyce's husband tried to persuade her to keep to the customs of his church, but this she refused to do. She became friendly with the Glover family in Mancetter, substantial people like themselves, who were also protestant.

Thomas Lewis warned Joyce continually and eventually refused to have anything to do with her. She was arrested by order of the Bishop of Coventry, imprisoned in dreadful conditions and then transferred to Lichfield where she was burned at the stake in the market place.

There were four children. Their eldest son, George, sold the Manor in 1549 and later drowned. His nephew, Francis(son of his brother Richard), died childless, ending the male line of the de Appleby family.This was a lady of great character and fortitude, who lived with her husband, George de Appleby at the Moat House. They were protestants.

The other protestant family, the Glovers, were ordered to be arrested also but managed to escape, except for one. He was caught and put to death in the same way outside Coventry Cathedral.

Mr Lewis' mansion in Mancetter, where Joyce lived, still stands. It is now a hotel and restaurant, and is furnished still in the Tudor style. In Mancetter church hangs a painting of Joyce de Appleby. Until the 16th century it was the home of the wealthy de Appleby family, who took their name from the village.

Another famous resident of the Moat House was Joyce de Appleby, who became a Protestant martyr after she was burnt at the stake by Bloody Mary (Queen Mary I of England) in Lichfield Market Place, for not converting to Catholicism. Joyce's husband, Sir George, was killed following the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh. Their eldest son, George, sold the Manor in 1549. He later drowned. His nephew, Francis(son of his brother Richard), died childless, ending the male line of the de Appleby family.

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Guardian December 1948 Granger Old Nottingham Notes volume 2, p. 5

From the Alfreton Road end;

1) Owned by John Hall, farmer and baker, who had premises in Listergate. Unknown fate.

2) The only tower mill, it stood in a field at back of Woodruff's Factory, 30 yards from Forest Road, at the top end of Lark Dale, close to the junction of Ayr Street with Forest Road. The owner was Richard Annibal, a baker trading in Long-row, later owned by John Bonner of Bobber's Mill, and later by Mr Smith of Albert street and Kegworth. Smith ran it by steam. The mill burnt down 2 December 1858.

3) Dame Moss's Mill, at the north end of Little Larkdale. owned by William Brewill, town councillor and butcher of Angel Row, then by Smith, owner of the tower mill who pulled it down and moved it to Kegworth.

4) Owned by W. and F. Wright, this mill was 35-40 yards east of no. 3, the last owner being Sharp, then the mill was moved to an unknown site.

5) Owned by William Toyne senior of Toll House Hill, Derby road. The mill was moved from Upton to Nottingham, and then to Blidworth in the 1850s then to Hemswell. It was demolished in 1936. A clockwise post mill.

6) Known as the Black Mill, either because it was painted black or because of lack of paint. This mill was moved from Gotham, and was owned by John "Jack" Johnson, member of South Notts Cavalry.

7) A clockwise post mill. Sited at the SW corner of Mount Hooton road, on or close to the rear of the Congregational Institute, this mill was owned by Barradell, the miller being William Rowlands of York Street and Hyson Green, a member of the South Notts Yeomanry. It was then owned by Benjamin Spencer of Goldsmith Square. Moved to Redmile by Carlile in 1855.

8) Nearly opposite to the top of Bowling Alley (Waverley Street), but lower down on the Forest than the others. Moved from Newark and owned by William Dickinson, baker who resided in Goosegate, and a native of Newark. Passed through the hands of Taylor brothers to the last occupant, William (Billy) Streets of Pelican Street Radford. At some time (maybe in Newark) an occupant hanged himself inside. Demolished.

9) Bailey's Mill. Opposite to Forest Road, on the Post Office site, nearer Alfreton Road than the west side of High School grounds. Stood on mound.On the site of a tuck shop at end of Mount Hooton Terrace. Passed from Charles Dodsley to Bailey. Later owner Thomas Macklay, who in 1842 was caught in the mill machinery and died in hospital. The last occupant was Billy Wyles, flour dealer of New Yard, Parliament Street.

10) William Sharp of Mansfield Road. During the 1831 Nottingham riots a crowd attacked the mill and threw corn and flour into street, damaged the sails and part of the structure and attempted to fire mill. Moved to site on east of turnpike short distance up road leading to Hawton at Farndon c. 1850s. Known as the 'Nottingham Mill'. It was demolished in the mid 1890s.

11)One of three standing in Church Cemetery- a little east of the Balmoral Road end. Purchased from Hind by Thomas Toyne or Toynes, his son and his brother Samuel. Eventually sold to Widdowson of Kimberley it was moved to Kimberley c. 1852, and burnt a few years later.

12) The middle of the Church three, built c. 1800 as the largest and best equipped post mill, at a cost of £1,000. The mill was owned by Thomas Bissell of Chapel Bar and John Wood, Bissell being recorded as the occupant in 1832. It was moved to Brighton c. 1852 or Friston after being sold for £100.

13) The nearest to Mansfield Road. Owned by Sam Scottorn of Cotgrave. Moved to Newton, and demolished in 1950 or 1952.