Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Site of former Paper Mill, Mill Lane, Eynsford

Monument Types

• PAPER MILL (Post Medieval to Modern - 1648 AD to 1985 AD)

Full description

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Site of former Paper Mill, Eynsford as shown on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and $th Edition O/S maps. The Mill has since been demolished and housing built on the site. One of the earliest paper mills in England was situated on the Darent at Eynsford, established in 1648 by Huguenot refugees. It was rebuilt many times over the years and functioned successfully as a two vat mill until 1907-8, when virtually all of the original structures were burned down in successive fires. The structure was quickly rebuilt, and functioned as a modern factory until 1952. After light industrial use, the factory was demolished in 1985 to make way for a housing estate named after the mill. Today, the watercourses and wheel pits have been retained in excellent condition, and indicate that the mills were powered by at least two waterwheels, one of which was advertised for sale in 1882 as being 18 ft. 3" in diameter by eight feet wide with eight arms. Nothing remains of the structures.

The Mills Archive Trust, Mills Archive website (Website). SKE32085.

Landmark, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 1st edition 1862-1875): Landmark Epoch 1 (Map). SKE30964.

Landmark, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 2nd Edition, 1897-1900): Landmark Epoch 2 (Map). SKE30965.

Landmark, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 4th Edition, 1929-1952) (Map). SKE30967.

Landmark, 1907-1923, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 3rd Edition, 1907-1923) (Map). SKE30966.

Sources and further reading