KNOWLEDGE BASE

To find out about the processes of archiving, explore the City of London's learning Zone website.
For a crash course in the history of milling in Kent, view the KCC's dedicated page.
Current details of the eight windmills owned and cared for by Kent County Council can be found here.
Up-to-date information about mills that are open to visitors in east Kent can be found on a site called Open Sandwich.co.uk.

Kent Windmills Education pack

There are so many different ways that you can pursue your interest in mills - by visiting and helping out at your local mill, exploring a regional or national archive to search for information about members of your family with a connection to milling - or simply sitting at your computer! This page gives an insight into some of the opportunities available.

The photograph below shows a group of Young Millers from the SPAB Mills Section, during one of their annual activity days, being given a demonstration of milling at Crabble watermill by Paul Jarvis.

Young Millers from the SPAB Mills Section

Kent County Council Educational Packs for primary school children by Ian Coulson

Ideas for discovery activities, contacts, and things to do to enhance your mill knowledge!

Part 1 - Introduction to the Mills of Kent

Part 2 - A Teacher's Guide to Kent's Mill Heritage

Part 3 - Activity Sheets relating to the KCC-owned windmills

Young people up to the age of sixteen can join the SPAB Mills Section’s Young Millers group and receive a regular mills newsletter, as well as invitations to meetings and visits. Kent’s mills, millers and millwrights will provide the theme of a day meeting run by the Section which will be held in November 2008. This will offer new members a fantastic and exciting introduction to the subject of mills—and those of Kent in particular. Send an email to millsinfo@spab.org.uk for details.

For young adults who are keen to develop a career as a millwright and who are interested in finding out more, the SPAB offers a special millwrighting training fellowship. Explore our millwrighting files on the project website and then see the SPAB Mills Section website for more details.

Adults of all ages can get involved with their local mill by joining a volunteer team, helping to promote and preserve the milling heritage of their local area. The Kent Mill Managers’ website gives details of all Kent mills which are regularly open to the public, each of which is staffed by a dedicated volunteer group. See our Kent Mills Organisations page for more details.