Diagram of a Wind Mill

This illustrates a wind-driven mill like those built throughout Antigua during the 18th Century

The prime difference in design between this mill and the original mills at Betty's Hope is the horizontal position of the crushing rollers. In the original mills, the three rollers were mounted vertically, the design having been adapted from mills studied by Anglo-Dutch planter Sir Henry Drax and other Barbadian planters in Brazil. The vertical design was phased in during the mid 18th Century.

It is important to note the major part played by the Dutch in the early development of British sugar planting and processing. They provided technical assistance and long term financing at affordable rates to the English planters, without which many plantations would never have reached profitability. Dutch shipping rates were generally lower than British transport and Dutch tariffs were significantly lower than those imposed on British ships.

Consequently regardless of the often changing relations between Holland and Great Britain over the late 17th and early 18th centuries, many island planters chose to deal with Dutch factors even when it was technically illegal.

The Boiling House