Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

Former Lower Buckland Mill site. Used for a variety of activities including a corn mill, paper mill and brewery. A mill has existed since 1666 with the current mill being constructed circa 1820.

Monument Types

• (Former Type) PAPER MILL (Post Medieval - 1755 AD? to 1845 AD?)
• (Former Type) BREWERY (Post Medieval - 1845 AD? to 1890 AD?)
• (Former Type) CORN MILL (Post Medieval to Modern - 1845 AD to 1957 AD)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

Lower Buckland Mill was used at various times as a corn mill, a paper mill (1755) and a brewery. These activities took place in different locations on the same site and the complex stood on both banks of the River Dour. It was converted to steam in 1876 and provides a good illustration of how technologies can co-exist with the buildings of the watermill and steam mill lying side by side and working in tandem. (1)

Two mills stood (one each side of the mill race) with a third mill in close proximity. The paper mill is believed to heve been built on the site of the oldest mill in the area dating back to the Domesday Book and it is believed that the original foundations exist beneath the wooden buildings. The paper mill was converted to a corn mill in 1819 and a brewery in 1847. (2)

The flour mill from record TR34 SW 708 states:-

It consists of a 4 storeyed weatherboarded section to the left. This has round-headed sashes and a lucam. 5 sashes to the side elevation. There is a 5 storey brown brick section to the right with 6 cambered sashes, pilasters and dentil band. 2 storey brown brick protruding section to the right.
The listed buildings from No lo7 to No 116 form a group.
Listing NGR: TR3091842489

The flour mill (described above) stood on the south bank of the river and on the northern bank stood the paper mill. This is understood to have been constructed in the C.18. It lost its right to draw power from the river around 1846 and was converted to a brewery known as the Wellington Brewery. Brewing continued until the closure of the brewery in the mid C20. The brewery complex including the paper mill was demolished in 1963 and only limited elements of the original building survive as footings.(3)

Bucklands mill land, known as Brox-Ditch meadow, is mentioned in the Domesday book and was owned by Dover Priory until the Dissolution of the Monastries in 1535. A paper mill was built adjacent to the original corn mill in 1775 and was expanded by the end of the C.18 and the historian Hasted described it as 'large and well constructed'. (4)

Lorraine Sencicle, 2014, The Dover Historian (Website). SKE31484.

<1> Dover District Council, 2013, Dover District Heritage Strategy (Bibliographic reference). SKE31372.

<2> Outside the Mill, 2015, Buckland Mill, Dover, Kent. Papermaking on the River Dour., http://www.bucklandmill.webspace.virginmedia.com/six_mills/lower_buckland.htm (Website). SKE31464.

<3> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<4> Lorraine Sencicle, 2014, The Dover Historian, http://doverhistorian.com/2013/07/09/lower-buckland-paper-mill-and-hardings-wellington-brewery/ (Website). SKE31484.

Sources and further reading