Willesborough Windmill

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Willesborough Windmill is an octagonal white smock mill built in 1869 by J Hill, the Ashford millwright, onto a two storey red brick base with attached miller's cottage.^[1] The mill is a Grade 2* listed building in Willesborough, Ashford, Kent located near to Hythe Road and visible from the M20 motorway near Junction 10.

The mills four Sails, or "Sweeps" as they are known in Kent, finally stopped turning in the late 1930's when the mill could no longer compete with the local roller flour mills. Using only the electric auxiliary power the mill changed over to producing animal feed, grinding peas and beans, and crushing oats and maize. Some flour was produced using a smaller set of stones driven off a lay shaft. It was bought, in a very dilapidated state, and fully restored in 1991 to its former glory by Ashford Borough Council for the benefit of the citizens of Ashford and the public at large.^[2]

The mill makes its own stoneground wholemeal bread flour, turning one set of stones with the power of a Hornsby 14hp engine. The mill, with its neighbouring barn, is licensed for Weddings, Christenings (Civil ceremonies) and many other meetings and functions.

The Mill complex is open from April to the end of September on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays from 2.00 to 5.00. School and group visits can be arranged for weekdays.

In 2006 the mill was awarded a Heritage Lottery Grant which means that they will be able to put the sweeps back on the mill. Part of the grant is to be spent on producing an Education pack for use on school visits.

Norman Cycles was a bicycle, autocycle, moped, and motorcycle manufacturer based in Ashford, and the mills barn complex houses the Norman Museum, where they have some mopeds and bicycles on display. The Norman Cycles Club is based at the Windmill. ^[3]