Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A smock built built to generate electricity for the nearby house. Built for Sir William Beardswell by Holman Brothers of Canterbury. Consists of a timber frame with weatherboard cladding. The mill has now been converted into a house. Grade II listed building. Main construction periods 1929 to 1929 20thC Windmill. Last built in Kent

Monument Types

• WINDMILL (Modern - 1929 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TR 34 SE 13:
(TR 36284350) The windmill (NAT) (1) Built in 1928 by Messrs Holman Bros of Canterbury. It began its working life in June 1929 but went out of use in 1939 at the outset of the second world war. It was repaired and redecorated in 1958. An overhaul was carried out in 1969 when the fantail stage and gearingwere replaced, and the sweeps, weatherboarding and cap repaired. (See illustration card). It is now maintained in excellent condition and is used for storage for the adjacent house in whose grounds it stands. (2-5) St Margaret's Bay Windmill, The Front. Grade II Built 1929, smock type, octagonal with boat-shaped cap. Four sweep, without shutters, winding gear intact. Roundhouse with 2 balconies. The mill was built to provide electricity for the attached house. The last windmill built in Kent. (6) Very brief mention. (7)

During the Second World War the windmill was used as a wireless listening post staffed by German-speaking WRNS who listened in to German shipping transmissions.(8)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
TR 34 SE ST MARGARET'S AT CLIFFE THE FRONT (south Foreland) 6/56 St. Margaret's 22.8.66 Bay Windmill
GV II
Windmill. 1929 for Sir William Beardswell by Holman Brothers of Canterbury. Timber framed and clad with weather boarding. Smock type, octagonal with boat-shaped cap. Four sweeps, without shutters, winding gear intact. Roundhouse with 2 balconies. The mill was built to provide electricity for the attached house, built at the same time, of 1 storey and attic weather boarded and plain tiled roof with irregular wooden casements. The last windmill built in Kent. (See B.J. + J.M. Turpin, Windmills in Kent, 1979).
Listing NGR: TR3626943514 (9)

Historic England archive material: BF002553 ST. MARGARETS BAY WINDMILL, ST MARGARETS AT CLIFFE File of material relating to a site or building. This material has not yet been fully catalogued. Copyright, date, and quantity information for this record may be incomplete or inaccurate.

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

<2> Ind Arch of SE Eng 1978 53 (AJ Haselfoot) (OS Card Reference). SKE44242.

<3> Windmills in Kent 1979 16 (BJ and JM Turpin) (OS Card Reference). SKE51336.

<4> The Windmills of Kent 1979 67-8 (J West) (OS Card Reference). SKE50549.

<5> Windmills of Eng 1976 108-9 (RJ Brown) (OS Card Reference). SKE51360.

<6> DOE(HHR) Dist of Dover 1987 25 (OS Card Reference). SKE40937.

<7> The Bldgs of Eng NE and E Kent 1983 437 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE50127.

<8> John A. Guy, 2013-, Verbal communication from John Guy, defence expert working in the Dover area (Verbal communication). SKE24831.

<9> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading