Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II listed building. Main construction periods 1790 to 1810 Early nineteenth century th windmill (disused)

Monument Types

• SMOCK MILL (Post Medieval to Modern - 1790 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TQ 83 SW 16 :
(TQ 82123240) Windmill (dis) (NAT) (1) 23/26 Beacon Windmill. Grade II. On the Salvage List and the Kent County Planning Officer's List called "Old Smock Mill". Early C.19. One of a pair of which the other disappeared long ago. Smock type. The ground and first fls. are of tarred brick with a platform supported on wooden cols. at first fl. level. Above weather-boarded. Boat-shaped cap. Platorm for the fantail but the fantail itself missing. No sweeps. The Mill is not in good condition. (2) TQ 822325. Beacon Mill, a smock mill built either c 1840 (3) or in thelate 18th early 19th century. In 1839 Richard Reeves was running the mill. Now dilapidated. Within the last year or so the roof of the cap has collapsed exposing the wooden brake wheel, iron windshaft and interior of the mill to the weather. Only a few timbers of the fan stage remain. The mill ceased work c 1921 and in 1923 the sweeps wereremoved, two going to be used at Headcorn Mill. A pair of 4 ft frenchstones from Beacon Mill were used at Cranbrook TQ 73 NE ). The threesets of stone have gone, leaving only a few pieces of machinery in position. (3,4,5,6,7)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
BENENDEN TQ88SW ROLVENDEN ROAD 1350-0/3/91 (North East side) 09/06/52 Beacon Windmill (Formerly Listed as: Old Smock Mill) GV II Windmill. Built between 1790 and 1810. Smock mill, one of a pair of which the other has long since disappeared. Tapering octagonal tarred brick base with upper part formerly weatherboarded but cladding replaced by large planks at time of survey. The platform at 1st floor level, boat-shaped cap fantail and sweeps were all missing at time of survey. The interior contained the intact spur wheel, upright shaft and remains of the wallower. The brake wheel and windshaft were not 'in situ' but available for reinsertion. Listing NGR: TQ8243532234 (8)

Archive material (9)

<1> OS 1:10000 1979 (OS Card Reference). SKE48165.

<2> DOE (HHR) Kent Cranbrook RD Nov 1960 5 (OS Card Reference). SKE40586.

<3> Windmills in Kent 1979 5 photo (B J & J M Turpin) (OS Card Reference). SKE51350.

<4> Windmills of Kent 1979 25-7 photo (J West) (OS Card Reference). SKE51376.

<5> Bldgs of Eng W Kent & the Weald 2nd Ed 1980 154 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE37937.

<6> Windmills of eng 1976 106 (R J Brown) (OS Card Reference). SKE51358.

<7> Wikipedia, 2019, List of windmills in Kent (Website). SKE52140.

<8> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<9> Historic England, Archive material associated with Beacon Hill Windmill, Benenden, Listed building (Archive). SKE54183.

Sources and further reading