The Newcomen Society 🌍

The Newcomen Society

The Newcomen society has been publishing it's journal since 1920, and contents pages for each journal can be found at Taylor and Francis. The major articles with milling relevance have been assembled below. An Index of volumes 1-32 is also available, which also notes more modest milling mentions within other articles. In the mid-2000s, the journal title changed from "Transactions of the Newcomen Society" to "The International Journal for the History of Engineering & Technology".

Rex Wailes was a one-time president of the society, and presented many significant papers at Society meetings, often at the Science Museum, which later appeared in the Transactions, or were expanded on in his other output.

Whilst most articles require a subscription to read, the text of one recent article (2025) is available open access: The demise of windmills in the Netherlands from 1850 to 1950: a quantitative and geographical approach, Jos Bazelmans, 2024

List of articles about mills

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 3 1922: p41-51 Notes on Old Windmills Arthur Titley

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 5 1924: p39-44 Some Windmills of Cape Cod Edward Pierce Hamilton

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 8 1927: p33-39 Notes on Horse-Mills H. O. Clark

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 9 1928: p52-59 Notes on French Windmills H. O. Clark

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 11 1930: p1-14 An Inquiry into Origins of the Windmill Hugh P. Vowles

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 13 1932: p89-94 The Shetland Watermill H. W. Dickinson, E. Straker

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 14 1933: p212 Correspondence: The Shetland Watermill

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 15 1934: p117-151 Windmills of Eastern Long Island Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 18 1937: p270-271 Hammer Mills in Cornwall Rhys Jenkins

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 19 1938: p1-33 Tide Mills in England and Wales Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 19 1938: p127-144 Post Mills of the Nord Rex Wailes, H. A. Webster

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 20 1939: p113-118 A Picardy Post Mill Enid and Rex Wailes
  The representations of post mills in Amiens cathedral. Mentions the predominant Pacardy smock and tower mills. Detailed description of the last working post mill in Dept. Somme, at St. Maxent nr Abbeville, with 4 cross trees and 16 quarterbars. Illustrated.

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 21 1940: p1-9 The Evolution of the Sugar Cane Mill Noel Deerr,Alexander Brooks

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 22 1941: p41-63 Suffolk Windmills: Part I, Post Mills Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 23 1942: p37-54 Suffolk Windmills: Part II, Tower Mills Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 24 1943: p55-64 Millstones in Wind and Water Mills John Russell

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 24 1943: p147-161 Windmill Sails E. Lancaster Burne, John Russell, Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 25 1945: p27-35 Windmill Winding Gear Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 25 1945: p199-205 The Windmills of Hanover D. W. Muggeridge

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 26 1947: p1-11 Windshafts Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 26 1947: p231-258 Norfolk Windmills: Part 1. Corn Mills Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 26 1947: p275-276 The High Mill, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk Press Martin Howard [2257]

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 27 1949: p97-119 The Windmills of Cambridgeshire, Including those of the Isle of Ely, the Soke of Peterborough and Huntingdonshire Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 27 1949: p199-202 Some Notes on Dutch Water-Mills E. M. Gardner

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 27 1949: p203-210 Three Types of Windmills in Southern Brittany Mdlle. M. G. Huard, Rex Wailes, Maj. H. A. Webster

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 27 1949: p211-216 Notes on the Berton Sail and the Caviers or Hollow Post Mills of Anjou H. O Clark, Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 28 1951: p233-237 A Warwickshire Windmill, and some notes on early Millwrighting Arthur Titley, H. D. Haines, Rex Wailes
  Chesterton windmill. Illustrated
  [1612]

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 28 1951: p239-243 Notes on the Windmill Drawings in Smeaton's Designs Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 28 1951: p245-253 Lincolnshire Windmills, Part I. Post Mills Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 29 1953: p103-122 Lincolnshire Windmills, Part II. Tower Mills Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 29 1953: p221-239 Windmills in Kent Rex Wailes, John Russell

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 30 1955: p93-98 Upright Shafts in Windmills Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 30 1955: p157-177 Norfolk Windmills: Part II, Drainage and Pumping Mills Including those of Suffolk Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 30 1955: p179-205 William Strutt's Cotton Mills, 1793-18l2| H. R. Johnson, A. W. Skempton

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 31 1957: p153-180 Essex Windmills Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 31 1957: p289-299 The Drive to the Stones in Windmills Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 31 1957: p301-310 Danish Windmills, The Outlines of a Pattern of Millwright Tradition Anders Jespersen

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 32 1959: p93-109 Some Windmill Fallacies Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 33 1960: p113-128 The Windmills of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, Part I: Post Mills P. H. J. Baker, Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 34 1961: p89-104 The Windmills of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, Part II: Tower Mills P. H. J. Baker, Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 34 1961: p151-154 Building a Post Windmill in 1342 Ian Keil

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 35 1962: p193-216 Dorset Watermills Joseph Addison, Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 36 1963: p47-65 The Gunpowder Mills of Westmorland and Furness Paul N. Wilson

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 36 1963: p159-163 Broadstone Mill, Corvedale C. T. G. Boucher

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 36 1963: p165-173 Peak Millstones and Hallamshire Grindstones Jeffrey Radley

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 36 1963: p175-181 Addendum to Dorset Water-Mills Joseph Addison, Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 36 1963: p183 Note on Bywater’s Windmill Sail Patent

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 37 1964: p99-116 Suffolk Watermills Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 38 1965: p51-68 Notes on the Windmills of Öland, Sweden Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 38 1965: p153-154 Notes: Bywaters Windmill Sails, Leathfield Mill, New Zealand Rex Wailes, Simon Wood
  Multiple notes, first by Rex on Bywaters Patent sails on Twr-y-Felin, St. David's, Wales. Second on Leithfield Mill, New Zealand.
  [wales29] [nz28]

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 39 1966: p67-94 Water Power in the North of Ireland W. A. McCutcheon

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 39 1966: p95-119 Water-driven Mills for Grinding Stone Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 40 1967: p47-60 The Albion Mills 1784-1791 John Mosse

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 40 1967: p125-145 Horizontal Windmills Rex Wailes
  Presents the privately published horizontal windmills research of Greville Bathe, together with material that has been discovered since that was published in 1948. Illustrated.

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 41 1968: p85-101 FINNISH MILLS Part I: Watermills Auvo Hirsjärvi, Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 41 1968: p139-162 Second Addendum to Dorset Watermills Joseph Addison

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 41 1968: p163-164 Origin of the Smock Mill Miss Katherine M. Longley

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 42 1969: p127-148 Windmills and Steam Power in Barbados Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 43 1970: p113-126 FINNISH MILLS Part II: Mamsel or Smock Mills Auvo Hirsjärvi, Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 43 1970: p127-128 Addendum to Finnish Mills, Part II The Smock Mill on Susisaari (Vargön) Island, Helsinki, Finland Auvo Hirsjärvi, Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 44 1971: p99-118 Finnish Mills Part III: Hollow Post Mills Auvo Hirsjärvi, Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 44 1971: p137-144 Windpower in Eastern Crete N. G. Calvert

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 45 1972: p55-65 Bell Alarms and Sack Hoists in Windmills H. O. Clarke, Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 45 1972: p93-104 Finnish Mills Part IV: Post Mills Auvo Hirsjärvi, Rex Wailes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 45 1972: p217-222 On Water Mills in Central Crete N. G. Calvert

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 47 1974: p73-84 Gilkes's 1853 to 1975 122 Years of Water Turbine and Pump Manufacture Paul N. Wilson

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 47 1974: p191-201 George Wailes & Co. Rex Wailes
  Not directly mill related, but of interest due to the family history of Rex Wailes.

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 53 1981: p97-118 Wind, Water and Muscle-Powered Flour-mills in Early South Australia L. J. Jones

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 55 1983: p67-84 The Origins of Water Power: A Problem of Evidence and Expectations N. A. F. Smith

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 57 1985: p189-191 Rex Wailes: A Bibliography J. Kenneth Major,John Boyes

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 58 1986: p59-73 John Torr Foulds (1742-1815): Millwright and Engineer J. G. Moher

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 60 1988: p31-48 The Horse Engine in the 19th Century J. K. Major

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 60 1988: p127-136 Technical Notes on 16th and 17th Century London Windmills J. S. P. Buckland

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 66 1994: p219-224 The Disappearance of Horizontal Watermills from Mediaeval Ireland Timothy E. Powell

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 67 1995: p125-159 The Technology of Gunpowder Making in the Eighteenth Century: Evidence from the Bristol Region Brenda J. Buchanan

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 69 1997: p205-235 Hydro-Electricity in North Wales 1880-1948 G. Woodward

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 70 1998: p221-250 Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills: 'The Old Establishment' Brenda J. Buchanan

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 70 1998: p251-255 Horizontal Mills in Mediaeval Ireland Colin Rynne

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 76, Issue 2 2006: p153-174 The Phoenix and its Demons: Waterpower in the Past Millennium Terry S. Reynolds

• Transactions of the Newcomen Society, Volume 76, Issue 2 2006: p251-258 James Brindley (1716-72) - His Simultaneous Commercial Development of Mills, Steam Power and Canals Christine Richardson

• The International Journal for the History of Engineering & Technology, Volume 85, Issue 1 2015: p70-93 The Technical Development of the Horizontal Water-Wheel in the First Millennium ad: Some Recent Archaeological Insights from Ireland Colin Rynne

• The International Journal for the History of Engineering & Technology, Volume 87, Issue 2 2017: p317-318 Book Review: Chadderton Mill, the History of an Oldham Cotton Spinning Mill Martin Gregory

• The International Journal for the History of Engineering & Technology, Volume 87, Issue 2 2017: p320-321 Book Review: Palmer Mills, The History of a Stockport Spinning Mill John Glithero

• The International Journal for the History of Engineering & Technology, Volume 88, Issue 2 2018: p244-248 Book Review: Manufacturing the Cloth of the World: Weaving Mills of Lancashire Ron Fitzgerald

• The International Journal for the History of Engineering & Technology, Volume 91, Issue 1 2021: p64-97 Medieval windmills to wind turbines: a history of theory and experiment Bryan Lawton

• , Volume 95, Issue 2 2025: p197-220 The demise of windmills in the Netherlands from 1850 to 1950: a quantitative and geographical approach Jos Bazelmans