Kent

Octagonal white smock mill.

Located near to Hythe Road and visible from the M20 motorway near Junction 10. One of the largest smock mills in the South of England, now fully restored.

Built in 1869 by J Hill, the Ashford millwright, on to a two storey red brick base with attached miller's cottage.

The mills four Sails, or "Sweeps" as they are known, finally stopped turning in the late 1930's when the mill could no longer compete with the local roller flour mills. Using only the electric auxiliary power the mill changed over to producing animal feed, grinding peas and beans, and crushing oats and maize. Some flour was produced using a smaller set of stones driven off a lay shaft. It was bought, in a very dilapidated state, and fully restored in 1991  by Ashford Borough Council. In 2006 the mill was awarded a Heritage Lottery Grant which has enabled the replacement of the sweeps in the summer of 2007. The windmill is now fully operational and able to mill flour using wind or the small engine. There is more history on its website.

The mill makes its own stoneground wholemeal bread flour, turning one set of stones with the power of a Hornsby 14hp engine. The mill, with its neighbouring barn, is licensed for Weddings, Christenings (Civil ceremonies) and many other meetings and functions.

Norman Cycles was a bicycle, autocycle, moped, and motorcycle manufacturer based in Ashford, and the mills barn complex houses the Norman Museum, where they have some mopeds and bicycles on display. The Norman Cycles Club is based at the Windmill.

There are very few good photos of this windmill, so it may be difficult to get. The best image I have seen is on the Millers tales website, see link below.

The image above is probably from the play area off Comes Close, see below.

Location:

Willesborough Windmill, Willesbourough, Ashford, Kent

Grid Reference:

TR 032422   OS Sheet - 189

Map Link:

Route(s):

Best Times to Visit:

E-mail:

info@willesboroughwindmill.co.uk

yym@btopenworld.com

Website:

www.willesboroughwindmill.co.uk/

Other useful websites:

Ashford Council Windmills

Millers Tales

www.kentattractions.co.uk/Willesborough_Windmill.htm

A lot of photos, including old ones etc  windmillworld

mills open

Classification:

Windmill

Location:

Willesborough Windmill, Willesbourough, Ashford, Kent

Grid Reference:

TR 032422

Getting there:

East of Ashford, Off A292 (Hythe Rd) into mill lane at end on right.  This is just to the west of where the A292 allows access to the M20 at Junction 10.

Off the M20 at junction 10, turn towards Ashford on A292. R at traffic lights then 1st L into Cornes Close. Car park is at end.

Access:

From above or try taking next road east, Lees Road, then left into cornes close, there is what appears to be a play area that goes right up to the windmill.

Parking:

Place open for weddings etc on same site so presumably no parking problems.

Facilities:

Things To Do, See and Photograph:

What to take:

Nature highlights:

Address:

Willesborough Windmill

Ashford

Kent

Postcode:

Telephone:

01233 661866

Pat White  01233 733416.

Opening times:

The Mill complex is open from April to the end of September on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays from 2.00 to 5.00pm

plus (July and August Only) Wednesdays 2.00pm to 5.00pm

Parties at other times by arrangement.

Charges:

Photo Restrictions:

None from public right of ways.

CIN Page Ref:

willesborough

This page:

Link directly to this page, with text or the button on right.

Text linking: Willesborough Windmill on Photographers Resource

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