Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Former site of smock mill, first built in 1744. By June 1940 there was a Royal Artillery observation post in Chislet Windmill and it is reputed that Barnes Wallace watched test of the bouncing bomb from here.. The windmill burned down in 2005.

Monument Types

• WINDMILL (WINDMILL, Post Medieval to Modern - 1774 AD to 2005 AD)
• OBSERVATION POST (Modern - 1940 AD? to 1941 AD?)

Full description

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The following text is from the original listed building designation:

1. 5273 BROOK LANE Chislet
Chislet Windmill TR 26 NW 7/36
II GV
2. Remains of an octagonal mill, now fronted with corrugated iron, with a triangular cap of weather-boarding and corrugated iron.
Chislet Windmill and Old Mill House form a group.
Listing NGR: TR2245567867

Description from record TR 26 NW 56:
TR224679 Chislet Windmill (NAT). (1) Additional bibliography. (2-4)

Description from record TR 26 NW 1091:
Former site of smock mill, first built in 1744. By June 1940 there was a Royal Artillery observation post in Chislet Windmill. The mill stands at the northern edge of Chislet parish, far from the village, atop a hill overlooking Reculver and the coast. It had reputedly also been used as an observation post for anti-aircraft fire during the First World War. Its cap and sails, and other excrescences, were torn off during a storm in 1916; and it was never rehabilitated, but a pitched roof was raised on the top. At some point between 1934 and April 1940 the mill was painted black and its windows reinstated; it is tempting to suggest this was done to make it suitable for Second World War military use. Muggerage’s photographs of the mill, dated 25 April show what may be slit trenches around the base of the mill. It was in use by the Royal Artillery by early June 1940, directing fire from gun emplacements at Blaxland Farm, Mayton Farm, and Broad Oak. Much of the milling machinery remained in place internally. The adjoining mill-house (which may have provided accommodation) is a Grade II Listed Building -- is the mill listed as part of the curtilage?
Owner : Private
Publicly accessible : No
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential :
Condition : unknown
Date of visit :

The building burned down in 2005.A residential mock mill was built in 2012 on the site.

Historic England archive material (8)

Historic England, Archive material associated with Chislet Windmill (Archive). SKE55267.

<1> OS 1:10000 1976 (OS Card Reference). SKE48161.

<2> Windmills of England 1976 231-2 (RJ Brown) (OS Card Reference). SKE51369.

<3> Windmills in Kent 1979 22 (BJ and JM Turpin) (OS Card Reference). SKE51343.

<4> The Windmills of Kent 1979 35-6 (J West) (OS Card Reference). SKE50545.

<5> C. P. Davies, Notes and ephemera concerning Chislet Windmill (Miscellaneous Material). SKE15337.

<6> Photographs from Muggerage Collection (Photograph). SKE15336.

<7> 90 Field Regiment Royal Artillery, 01/01/40, War Diary 90 Field Regiment Royal Artillery 1940 (Unpublished document). SKE15335.

Sources and further reading