Restored village windmill reopens

The restored windmill will be open on two Sundays in September

A listed windmill which had to be dismantled and rebuilt after being blown down in gales two years ago is being officially reopened on Tuesday.

Chillenden Mill, a 137-year-old Kent post mill, had to be taken away timber by timber and rebuilt by specialist craftsmen at Henley-on-Thames.

"The millwrights have done a wonderful job of restoration," said Paul Allen of the Friends of Chillenden Windmill.

"It is part of our heritage and part of the landscape."

He said the windmill was one of hundreds in Kent in the 19th Century, of which few remain.

"It is part of what makes the Kent countryside what it is. We are a tiny village with a wonderful, thriving church and a lively pub and it is part of the village."

Chillenden Mill was one of the last post mills to be built in Kent.

It is believed the southerly gales hit the structure in a direction from which it had not suffered wind damage before.

It was strengthened during the rebuilding to stop similar damage happening again.

Kent County Council was handing the keys over to the friends of the windmill, who are to open it to the public on 18 and 25 September.