Yesterday marked the official reopening of the windmill at Cranbrook after major renovation work were completed.
Union Mill is one of eight Windmills owned by Kent County Council and is described as ‘possibly the finest windmill in the land’.
The mill will be run by a team of volunteers, managed by The Cranbrook Windmill Association. The mill will be open to the public during summer afternoons, from 2:30-5:00pm. Entrance is free, however, the Association do say that if you enjoy your visit they do welcome donations towards ongoing costs of maintaining the mill.
Cranbrook Windmill was built for Mary Dobell by the Cranbrook millwright, James Humphrey, in 1814, just before the end of the Napoleonic Wars. After bankruptcy by the Dobell’s, it was conveyed to and operated by a union of creditors, local farmers and businessmen, hence the name, “Union Mill”.
Grinding by wind was always unreliable, so that in 1863 a ten horse-power Middleton steam engine was installed to drive three sets of millstones in the base of the mill. By 1870, milling by wind had virtually ceased, and in 1912, new owner Caleb Russell removed the shutters from the sweeps and the fantail was also taken down. Latterly grain was milled for livestock use only.
You can find out more about Union Mill here.
