While Newton was at the school, a windmill was being constructed at the top of Gonerby Hill on the Great North Road. Windmills were locally relatively unusual, where most mills were water mills. Isaac was fascinated by its construction and walked each day after school to observe the progress. He returned to Mr Clarke's house and built a replica of it. He used cloth for the sails and fixed it to the roof of his lodgings. Because its operation was reliant on the wind, Isaac built a wheel so that the sails could be turned by a mouse, which he called his mouse miller. The only problem was that the mouse ate the corn that he was grinding. Newton also made a lantern of 'crumpled paper' to light his way to school on dark winter mornings, which he used to fold up and put in his pocket during the day. He fastened his lantern to a kite and frightened the surrounding neighbours who were worried that it would set fire to their houses. On 3rd September 1658, the day that Oliver Cromwell died, there was a great storm throughout the country. By jumping first with the wind and then against it, and comparing leaps with those on a calm day, he measured 'the vis of the storm'. He puzzled the other boys by telling them that the storm was a foot stronger than any he had known before. He then showed them the marks of his leaps.

Photograph of an old Post Mill

© The King's School, Grantham                               Page updated December 2011