Ken Major

John Kenneth Major ARIBA, FSA, popularly known as Ken Major (21 October 1928 – 25 July 2009) was an architect, author and world authority on industrial archaeology, particularly windmills, watermills and animal-powered machines. As an author, he was known as J Kenneth Major.

Early life

Ken Major was born in Reading, Berkshire on 21 October 1928. His parents were Katharine May Major (née Ridge) and John William Major. He was christened John Kenneth Major but owing to a number of John Majors in the family he was generally referred to as Ken.

Major attended the Boy's Grammar School at Leigh, Lancashire, where his father was the headmaster, from 1939 to 1945. He then attended a school in Kendal until 1946. Major was interested in ancient buildings from an early age. He recalled cycling to Winwick church aged 8 to see the carved pig (symbolic of a legend about the church being relocated to a pre-Christian site) there. The Heritage Lottery Fund and other bodies concerned with mill preservation. He was also a founding trustee of the Mills Archive Trust. His funeral took place on 6 August 2009 at Reading Crematorium.

Books

Ken Major was the author of a number of books.

(see Finch Foundry) (see List of windmills in the Isle of Wight)

(see John Wallis Titt, Crux Easton wind engine) (see List of horse mills)

(see Éolienne Bollée)

(see Rex Wailes)