Davison's Mill, Stelling Minnis

Davison's Mill is a four-story black wooden structure with a brick foundation rising 43 feet (13 meters) high. Four patent sails mounted on a cast-iron windshaft could be adjusted to catch the wind from any direction.

Thomas Holman built the mill in 1866 to replace an older wooden post mill on the same site. It operated commercially for more than a century before closing in 1970.

The mill speaks to the working life of rural Kent, where grain processing was a daily necessity that shaped the region for centuries. Walking through it helps you understand how communities depended on such mills for their livelihood.

The mill opens to visitors only on Sundays and bank holidays between 2 PM and 5 PM during the warmer months. The interior involves climbing steep stairs and navigating tight spaces, so comfortable walking shoes and a steady step are helpful.

Inside the structure sits the only surviving original hot-bulb auxiliary engine ever installed in a British windmill. This rare example of early combustion technology is a surprising piece of industrial heritage that few visitors expect to find.

Location: Stelling Minnis

GPS coordinates: 51.17720,1.06917

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:26