Title:

Willesborough Windmill

Price:

£50.00

Overview

Built in 1869 by local builder John Hill, the Willesborough Windmill is a Grade II* listed smock mill that replaced an earlier structure destroyed by lightning. It was operated by the Cornes family for decades, serving as a vital part of Ashford’s agricultural history. Over its working life, the mill adapted to shifting technologies, transitioning from wind power to a steam engine, followed by a gas-oil engine in 1912, before finally being electrified in 1938. After falling into disrepair following its closure in the 1950s, the site was saved by Ashford Borough Council in 1991 and restored to full working order. Architecturally, the mill is a striking white, eight-sided timber "smock" sitting atop a two-storey red brick base. It features four patent sails, known locally as sweeps, and an eight-bladed fantail that automatically turns the cap into the wind. Inside, the original machinery remains functional, capable of driving four pairs of millstones by wind. A fifth pair of stones is powered by a rare, restored 1906 Hornsby gas-oil engine, which is still demonstrated to the public during visiting days to show how the mill operated when the wind was low. Today, the mill is managed by a charitable trust and serves as a popular heritage attraction and wedding venue. The site includes the original Miller’s Cottage, restored with Victorian interiors, and a 19th-century barn that now houses the Norman Cycles Museum, celebrating a famous local bicycle manufacturer. Open seasonally from April to October, the windmill remains one of the few places in the South of England where visitors can see a large-scale traditional mill still grinding flour and experience the industrial evolution of rural Kent.

Tags:

19th century, 1800's, windmill, Kent, South East, England, industrial, working mill, ashford, grade II listed, listed

Creator (Verified):

@Merlin-Capture