Description of the Railway Steam Mill
aka William Kingston's Mill
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The following is a detailed description of William Kingston's new Railway Steam Flour Mill in Singleton in 1890. This article was published in The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser on 19 February 1878:
"Mr. William Kingston's New Steam Flour Mills and Residence.
(From our Singleton Correspondent).
Amongst the various new buildings erected in Singleton during the past twelve months, or which are now in course of construction, the large flour mill, and residence adjoining, in John-street, just completed for our worthy townsman, Mr. William Kingston, claim the attention of all visitors to the town, and form a conspicuous and valuable improvement to the important thoroughfare in which these buildings have been erected.
The main mill building consists of three stories with attic, or four floors in all. It is 60 feet, in length by 21 feet in width, and has a spacious verandah running along the whole front. At one end of the building is the boiler shed 21 feet by 10 feet, and attached to this is the smoke shaft, 50 feet in height.
The boiler shed contains a new Cornish boiler of 16 horse power, constructed according to the latest improvement with a dome. This boiler is supplied with water by means of a superheater, consisting of an old boiler which is placed at the rear of the mill. The water for the superheater is obtained from four 400 gallon tanks placed on a platform above it, and these tanks get filled from a splendid well, 45 feet in depth, containing an inexhaustible supply of excellent water.
The water is pumped by the mill machinery, and by means of an ingenious contrivance the same belt which does the mill machinery can be easily removed to drive the pumping apparatus. The water in the superheater is heated by means of the exhaust steam from the boiler, thereby saving a large amount of fuel.
The boiler is filled from the superheater only by gravitation, and as therefore the water enters the boiler in a heated state the danger of explosion, caused so frequently by cold water coming into contact with a hot boiler is reduced to a minimum. The amount of fuel consumed by the boiler is one ton of coal per day of twelve hours.
Next to the boiler is the engine, working up to 14 horse power, and fitted up with all the latest improvements. The engine drives three pairs of stones -- silk dresser and smutting machinery, and, besides, does all the pumping required for the establishment.
Besides the engine on the first floor are the spouts for stones and silk dressers, the remaining portion of this floor being used for storage of flour.
On the second floor are the stones, silk dressing machinery, and a separate room containing the smutting apparatus. The remaining portion of third floor is devoted for the storage of bran, etc. The silk dressing machinery is fitted up with all the latest improvements.
The third floor contains the meal loft, and wheat hoppers. The latter are an ingenious improvement, lately introduced for self feeding the stones with grain when at work, thereby saving a good deal of manual labour.
On the attics or fourth floor is the granary and the hoisting machinery, the latest improvements having been introduced for the efficient and easy working of the hoists, each floor through which the sacks pass on their upward passage to the granary being supplied with self-closing trap doors.
Altogether no expense appears to have been spared by Mr. Kingston, to introduce the latest improvements in the various departments of this extensive establishment, and to economise labour as much as possible, both important considerations in the successful working of a steam flour mill.
At the other end of the mill, opposite the boiler shed, is a commodious office approached from the verandah.
The buildings, which are constructed of brick on a substantial stone foundation, and roofed with galvanised iron, were erected under Mr. Kingston's own superintendence, and are called the Railway Mills.
The engine and machinery were erected by Mr. William Crispin, of Sydney, the boiler having been manufactured by Messrs. Chapman and Co., of Sydney.
The dwelling house, two stories high, is erected a few yards distant from the mill, being separated from the mill yard by a neat palisading fence. The front shows a gable, flanked by a side wing, the latter being protected by a handsomely ornamented verandah and balcony.
From the spacious verandah, 21 feet long by 8 foot in width, we enter through the main entrance into the hall, 7 foot in width by 30 feet long. At the right is the drawing room, 15 feet x 17 feet, provided with a neat bow window fronting John-street, and adding 2 foot to that portion of the apartment.
At the rear of the drawing room is the dining room, 15 feet x 16 feet, and on the left of the hall the sitting room, 15 feet x 13 feet. Ascending a commodious staircase we enter a passage, and from thence three bedrooms corresponding in size to the 3 rooms just enumerated.
Attached to the main building at the rear is a one story building, entered through a back hall, and which contains a servant's room, kitchen, and laundry.
At the rear of the premises, and entered from the mill yard, a brick building is now in course of construction, to contain the coach-house, stable and a storeroom.
Great attention has been paid by the architect to ventilation. The rooms are twelve feet high, and have all been fitted with chimney flues and Arnold's patent ventilators. Zimdare's patent pneumatic bells have also been introduced.
The building has been substantially erected of brick on a concrete foundation, and is roofed with galvanised iron. Mr. J. W. Pender, of West Maitland, was the architect, and Mr. Henry Sherwood, of West Maitland, was the builder. The mill buildings and residence are being enclosed with a handsome paling fence fronting John street, for which Mr. Paton, of Fordwich, in the contractor.
Singleton, Feb 17. "
Further Reading
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