Draper mill - Margate

 

I have wanted to visit this windmill for a long time after seeing a friend of mine go there. Recently, I happened to be in Margate, so I decided to check out the mill. We parked and walked over to it, and to my surprise, admission was free since it was Heritage Open Day. Our guide, who took us around the mill, was extremely lovely and informative when explaining things to us about what was happening in the mill.

This is an old smock mill that is grade II listed, and it was built in 1845. Back in 1965, the mill faced demolition threats. It was used to grind flour, and when it was built, it was one of three mills constructed in the area. Draper Mill relied on wind power until 1916, after which it used a gas engine until 1930. In 1968, Kent County Council restored the mill between 1969 and 1975.

Chillenden Windmill - Kent

I had wanted to explore this windmill for some time, but I kept missing its open hours or wasn't in the area. Since I was alread visiting different places, I thought I would make Chillenden Windmill my last stop for the day. It was open later than the other locations I had visited. Before heading there, I checked the website to confirm it was open, and it was. Additionally, this visit would mark the last of the 2026 season, as the windmill would reopen in May 2027.

 

The windmill itself is a really interesting little structure and not as large as other windmills you typically see. This lovely gem is also Grade II listed. The mill was a working mill until 1949. In December 1957, it is said that the mill was purchased for £100, and KCC restored it to a working mill for £728, although they did not retain all the machinery. Sadly, in 2003, the windmill collapsed, and in 2004, plans were announced to rebuild on the site. The mill reopened to visitors in 2005.