Swallow Mill, Little Chart

A water-powered corn mill and oil mill in the historic county of Kent, England.

Millers:

1845 John Large

1874 Thomas Hills

1887 John Hooker

1891 Thomas Hills

1922 Mrs Georgina Hills

From Simmons Coll’n:- “It is very interesting;has a wooden griped arm pit wheel. The water wheel is an all-iron breast shot about 20 feet diameter and 4 to 5 feet wide. The shell which exploded in the mill did damage which has been repaired. The motive power is electricity, but stones are not used. All the gear is very old. Mr Hill has the mill” (Sidney Ashdown, 1946). “Swallow Mill. 18th century building. 3 stories high, having brick walls up to the first floor and weatherboarding above. Present owner Mr Thomas Hills. Still works, by electricity. Wheel still in, large wooden undershot about 25 feet high. Was an oil mill at one time” (Goodsall, 1953, pp. 23-24). “The oil part of Swallow Mill was the other side of the wheel, driven by cross-shafting upstairs” (HRH, 1952). Rob Cumming visit 1985 :- “The mill is a very picturesque building, a continuous range of mill and mill house, but when I enquired at the mill house, the owner said the mill was gutted of machinery before the war. But, when I looked though the window, however, I saw an enormous wooden pit wheel.” Rob Cumming Visit 2007 :- “Externally the structure is identically well kept as of 20 years ago. I remain convinced that internally it is complete. Owner not in, guard dog on duty.”

Full details

Power source	Water
Mill type	Watermill
River	Great Stour
Mill function	Corn mill, Oil mill
Archive ID	8621
Location	Little Chart, Ashford
Historic county	Kent
Country	England, United Kingdom
NGR	TQ 933 469
Latitude/longitude	51.19026400, 0.76543852