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42-540: Newport Tower may refer to: Newport Tower (Rhode Island) in Newport, Rhode Island Newport Tower (Jersey City) in Jersey City, New Jersey Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Newport Tower . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to

84-533: A 2003 report on this and related work, Hale, et al. put the date of the mortar, and thus the tower, at about 1680. In 1837, Danish archaeologist Carl Christian Rafn proposed a Viking origin for the tower in his book Antiquitates Americanæ , partly based on his research of the inscriptions on the Dighton Rock near the mouth of the Taunton River . This hypothesis is predicated on the uncertainty of

126-474: A niche in the inner wall, next to the "south" window. (This no longer happens due to urban development and park trees.) Similarly, the angle from the "east" window through the "west" window is about 18 degrees south of west, which is the southern extreme of moonsets during what is known as the " lunar minor standstill ". The smaller windows also form alignments, on significant stars. These alignments could be accidental, but if they were deliberate it would explain why

168-646: A ridge within half a mile of one of the main southwest–northeast roads of early modern Britain, which also runs past Leamington, and it is entirely plausible that Arnold would have seen it, or perhaps another colonist in a position to influence the design of his "stone built windmill". Various authors have suggested that comparable mediaeval buildings can be found in Europe, particularly the Orphir Round Church on Orkney built in Scotland around 1115, and

210-519: A scientific investigation of the site by the Society for American Archaeology in 1948. The investigation was directed by Hugh Henken of Harvard University , with the field work headed by William S. Godfrey. As part of the investigation, a one-meter-wide trench was dug from the tower's exterior through the interior. The results were published in Godfrey's 1951 Ph.D. dissertation and concluded that all

252-428: A shallow platform of 71 feet 9 inches (21.87 m) in diameter. The mill tower with a cap height of 36 feet (11 m), unique worldwide in structure and mechanics, is supported on six semicircular arches, on piers, the outer faces of which are arcs of circles radiating from a common centre. A sandstone string course surmounts the six arches and runs round the tower, below the windows. There are four windows in

294-426: A stone tower similar to Chesterton Windmill exists in Newport, Rhode Island, US. The commonly accepted theory is that it was built by Benedict Arnold around 1676 after a previous wooden mill was blown down in 1675. It is not quite the same as Chesterton Windmill, having eight round pillars, but it was very similar. The Arnold family, whose place of origin is disputed but may have been either Leamington or further down

336-404: A very small diameter of 22 feet 9 inches (6.93 m) and it has an "in cap" winding gear unusual for an English windmill, the cap being winded by a hand-operated winch having spur and worm gears. The mill has undergone three major reconstructions, one in 1776 when the mill shaft was modified, and the date carved in the tail of the shaft, and one in 1860 when the old curb and cap framing

378-466: Is a fireplace backed with grey stone and flanked by nooks. A representation of the tower is featured prominently on the seal and unit patch of the former US Navy vessel USS Newport . The tower is described in a document of 1741 as "the old stone mill." It was used as a haymow in 1760, while it was described in 1767 as being used as a powder store "some time past". De Barres' plan of Newport published in 1776 marks it as "Stone Wind Mill." During

420-486: Is between this mill and his mansion and still exists today. The phrase has therefore generally been accepted as referring to the Newport Tower, and is evidence that the tower was once used as a windmill. Still, others have contested that locals remembered the tower was previously a functioning corn mill, and that since it had a ground-level fireplace, it couldn't have been built as a windmill. An illustration from

462-426: Is incorrect that a windmill would not have fireplaces because of the fire risk. Several have fireplaces aligned with windows, and it is not unusual to find a double flue exiting the wall, generally with the exits aligned parallel to the prevailing wind to improve the updraft on a relatively short flue. A conventional chimney could not be used, as it would foul the turning cap and sails of the windmill. Examples include

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504-563: Is located in Touro Park at the top of Mill Street, surrounded by a historical residential neighborhood on the hill above the waterfront tourist district. Eighteenth-century paintings show that the hill itself once furnished a view of the harbor and would have been visible to passing mariners in Narragansett Bay , but recent tree growth now obscures the view. The Newport Tower is not exactly circular. From southeast to northwest,

546-518: Is mentioned first in the order, rather than his father, and as an indication of his increasing wealth at the assessment of taxes in Providence in 1650, Benedict Arnold's amount was put at £5, the largest sum assessed against any one individual. In June of this same year Roger Williams, in writing to Gov. Winthrop of Connecticut says, "Benedict Arnold having now bought house and land at Newport, proposing thither to remove." Godfrey initially dismissed

588-627: Is one of Warwickshire's most famous landmarks. It stands on a hilltop overlooking the village of Chesterton, near the Roman Fosse Way and about five miles (8 km) south-east of Warwick . It was built around 1632–1633, probably by Sir Edward Peyto , who was Lord of the Chesterton Manor House. At this time John Stone, a pupil of Inigo Jones , was in Chesterton designing the new Manor House and he probably helped with

630-507: Is strongly suggested by the records that he purchased some of his Newport property, specifically the section on which he later built his house and the Stone Mill, the year before he moved. (Thompkins, 1919, quoting Roger Williams, 1650) The original owner had been Jeremy Clarke, but there is no indication that Clarke ever built on the property." Thompkins wrote: “It will be noticed as an evidence of Benedict Arnold's prominence that his name

672-601: The American Revolution, the tower was used by the Americans as a lookout and by the British to store munitions . The tower is located at the upper end of the plot behind the now-demolished mansion built by Benedict Arnold , the first colonial governor of Rhode Island, who moved from Pawtuxet to Newport in 1651. In 1677, Arnold mentions "my stone built Wind Mill" in his will; the site for his burying ground

714-553: The British "Penny Magazine" published in 1836 (shown at right) reveals that the tower is of a similar type to Chesterton Windmill , a 17th-century mill near Chesterton , Warwickshire , England . There is a mistaken notion that Arnold was born in Leamington , Warwickshire, only a short distance from Chesterton; the family lived near Limington in Somerset , about 100 miles (160 km) away. However, Chesterton windmill stands on

756-677: The Chesterton Mill theory, claiming that "on the other hand, there is very little probability that Benedict built his Tower as a mill... the tower mill form, as contrasted to the smock, post and composite forms, was not common in England until the beginning of the 18th century." Godfrey posited the hypothesis that "the tower was built as a comfortable retreat and lookout for a very rich and very autocratic old man." However, he later retreated from this position, noting in 1954 that " Rex Wailes , noted English expert on windmills... has supported

798-508: The Stone Mill in a 28 February 1677 deed. Four of the eight supporting pillars of the tower face the main points of the compass. In the 1990s, William Penhallow, a Professor of Physics and astronomer at the University of Rhode Island , studied the windows in the tower and said that he found a number of astronomical alignments. At the summer solstice the setting sun should shine through the "west" window (actually just south of true west) onto

840-542: The artifacts discovered were from the 17th century. Godfrey's dissertation identifies Benedict Arnold as the builder of the tower, stating that Arnold "purchased some of his Newport property, specifically the section on which he later built his house and the stone mill, the year before he moved.... At some period before 1677 Arnold built the Old Stone Mill." There is no evidence for Godfrey's assertion that Arnold "built his house" in Newport. From Godfrey's thesis: "It

882-652: The contention that both structures were built as mills." It has since been shown that tower mills were known in England from the late 13th century and that they became increasingly common from the late 16th century onwards. Subsequent research has determined that Chesterton was, in fact, built as a windmill in 1632–33, as the original building accounts have been traced since Wailes' death in 1986, including payments for sailcloths. There are also several surviving 17th-century unarched stone tower mills in North America, which are similar in appearance to European examples of

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924-431: The diameter reportedly measures 22 feet 2 inches (6.76 m) but, when measured from east to west, the diameter lengthens to 23 feet 3 inches (7.09 m). However, the 19th-century measurements of the interior gave an east–west dimension of 18 feet 4 inches (5.59 m), which was slightly shorter than the north–south measurement of 19 feet 9 inches (6.02 m), suggesting that

966-429: The discrepancies may be due to the unevenness of the rubble masonry. The tower has a height of 28 feet (8.5 m) and an exterior width of 24 feet (7.3 m). At one time, the interior of the tower was coated with smooth white plaster, the remnants of which may be seen on the interior faces of several pillars. It is supported by eight cylindrical columns that form stone arches , two of which are slightly broader than

1008-530: The early 20th century, Edmund B. Delabarre associated the Dighton Rock with the lost Portuguese navigators Miguel Corte-Real and his brother Gaspar . This Portuguese hypothesis has been supported more recently by Manuel Luciano DaSilva, who suggests that one of the Corte-Real brothers built the Newport Tower as a watchtower. The idea of Portuguese construction of the tower was also supported by former U.S. Ambassador Herbert Pell , who in 1948 argued that

1050-401: The floor trap, and the upper, second, or hoist floor with brake wheel, main gearing (wallower), sack hoist pulley, and parts of the winding winch. The windshaft and the main parts of the winding system including the wind direction indicator is installed within the cap. The space inside the arches, until 1930, used to have a wooden structure to store the grain, and an open timber staircase to reach

1092-476: The intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Newport_Tower&oldid=933015564 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Newport Tower (Rhode Island) Other names given to the tower include Round Tower, Touro Tower, Viking Tower, and Newport Stone Tower. The Newport Tower

1134-410: The interior, and a small repeat indicator at its lower end, so that the miller could set the mill without leaving his work. The lattice-type-sails are 60 feet (18 m) span counter clock-wise rotation (seen from outside the mill; most of all windmills worldwide rotate clockwise seen from inside the mill - from "under the wind") and with 450 sq ft (42 m ) of canvas. The arched tower covers

1176-463: The later-built (ca. 1750s) Upholland Windmill, Lancashire , where the fireplace is at second floor level ( first floor in British English ), as well as Much Wenlock windmill , Shropshire , which has double flues of uncertain purpose rising from the middle floor level, which was constructed in the 18th century. Both of the above cited examples post-date the earliest surviving mention of

1218-408: The milling floors. This structure was removed to prevent vandalism. The cap of the mill is a shallow dome which used to be covered with lead sheet, but also because of vandalism is now covered with aluminium. Between the cap and the top of the wall is a system of rollers running in a track plate allowing the cap to be rotated easily. There is a wind direction indicator on the roof which is continued into

1260-503: The open days and provide stewards for the event). In 2006 during an open day, one of the sails fell off the windmill injuring a visitor. Initially, following the incident, the area was roped off to prevent visitors approaching the windmill. The sails themselves were then removed for strengthening. They were replaced in late 2007. In 1975 it was awarded one of the Civic Trust Heritage Awards . Newport Tower ,

1302-403: The other six. Above the arches and inside the tower is evidence of a floor that once supported an interior chamber. The walls are approximately 3 feet (0.91 m) thick, and the diameter of the inner chamber is approximately 18 feet (5.5 m). The chamber has four windows on what used to be the main floor, and three very small ones at the upper level. Almost directly opposite the west window

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1344-644: The pattern of windows seems, according to Penhallow, "so odd". Author Gavin Menzies argues in 1421: The Year China Discovered America that the tower was built by a colony of Chinese sailors and concubines from the junks of Zheng He 's voyages either as a lighthouse or as an observatory to determine the longitude of the colony, based on Penhallow's findings. Menzies claimed that the tower closely matches designs used in Chinese observatories and lighthouses elsewhere. However, these claims have been debunked. During

1386-701: The round churches on the Danish island of Bornholm , such as Østerlars Church dating from around 1160. In 1848, the Rev. Dr. Jackson of Newport collected samples of mortar from the mill and some of the oldest known structures in the town, including the very early Bull house (c. 1640), the Easton house (1642–1643), other houses, and the tombs of Governor Arnold and his wife. Under detailed examination, all proved to be of very similar composition, "composed of shell lime, sand, and gravel". The city of Newport gave permission for

1428-594: The same period (e.g., Moulin de Grondines, Quebec (1674) and Moulin de Vincelotte, Quebec (1690)). In 1993, radiocarbon dating tests of the tower's mortar were undertaken by a team of researchers from Denmark and Finland. The results suggest a probable date of production of the mortar between 1635 and 1698. The tested mortar may date from the tower's initial construction or from repointing , which may have been performed long after initial construction. The researchers drilled "deep so as to get past any recent mortar that might have been applied during tuck pointing." In

1470-534: The southward extent of the early Norse explorations of North America, particularly in regard to the actual location of Vinland . Rafn's popularization of the theory led to a flurry of interest and "proofs" of Norse settlement in the area. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow incorporated the Norse-origin view of the tower into his poem " The Skeleton in Armor ". Philip Ainsworth Means , an archaeologist whose specialty

1512-528: The tower resembles elements of the Convent of Tomar in Portugal. British writer Andrew Sinclair has put forth the hypothesis that the Newport Tower was built by medieval Scottish Templars led by Scottish earl Henry Sinclair as part of an alleged voyage to New England about a hundred years before Columbus, but such a voyage has been vigorously disputed. Lydia Sigourney 's poem " The Newport Tower "

1554-448: The tower, two small and two much larger with stone mullioned windows. A three-light window set in the roof on the opposite side to the sails, has a small plaque above it with the letters "E. P. 1632". Beside the open ground floor within the arches there are two more floors to the mill, the first, lower, or stone floor 15-foot (4.6 m) above ground level, housing millstones, great spur wheel, hurst frame , sack hoist rope passing through

1596-462: The wind vane took place. In the early 1950s one sail broke off and was restored years after. It was not until 1969 that a larger reconstruction of Chesterton Mill began again under the control of Warwickshire County Council , now responsible for its upkeep, and the reconstruction of the machinery. The windmill repairs were finished in 1971, and the mill reopened for a few days to the public each year in summertime (volunteers from nearby villages help run

1638-448: The windmill as well. Sir Edward was a mathematician and astrologer and probably his own architect for the windmill, but although claims have been made that the tower was originally built as an observatory, the estate accounts now at Warwick Record Office show that it has always been a windmill, making it the earliest tower mill in England to retain any of its working parts. It is built of hard local limestone, with sandstone detailing, on

1680-574: Was Andean civilizations , attempted to compile all known evidence surrounding the tower in his 1942 book Newport Tower . As a supporter of the Norse hypothesis, Means dismissed the idea that Arnold built the tower "from the ground up." He claimed that the Tower was a church built between the 11th and 14th centuries, citing many architectural features obsolete by the 17th century. Since then, much of Means' evidence has been shown to be mistaken. His assertion

1722-409: Was altered. By 1910 it had ceased to function as a mill because the winding gear failed to operate, so that her last miller, William Haynes, was no longer able to turn the mill's cap round to make the sails face the wind. He abandoned the mill and moved to Harbury tower mill, one mile to the east. In the 1930s the mill was sometimes used for milling at 'prosperous' winds. Minor repairs to the sails and

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1764-429: Was published in her Scenes in my Native Land , 1845. The accompanying text covers some of the arguments as to its origins outlined above. Chesterton Windmill Chesterton Windmill is a 17th-century cylindric stone tower windmill with an arched base, located outside the village of Chesterton, Warwickshire . It is a Grade I listed building and a striking landmark in south-east Warwickshire. The windmill

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