Herne Village Windmill: History & Visiting Guide 2025

ByMagdalena Marsden

The Herne Village Windmill is a historic smock mill located in the village of Herne in Kent, England. It was built in 1789 and is a Grade I listed building. It is considered one of the oldest surviving smock windmills in Kent and it’s well worth the visit. The views from the top of the mill are beautiful and the history and flour milling exhibitions inside are great to see for anyone who, like me, likes industrial heritage.

How many day trippers have visited Herne Bay and never ventured in land to visit the village of Herne and its picturesque windmill? Until last week, I was one of them. We’d happily walked along the promenade, watched the children fishing for crabs on the pier, and taken our pick of the ice creams on offer at Mackaris.

So, when I suggested a trip to Herne, Magdalena could be forgiven for thinking that I was pitching yet another trip to the Bay. In fact, we did go there first, but only to park, so we could walk the 1.5 miles in land to Herne Village Windmill.

MORE LOCAL PLACES TO VISIT

Herne Windmill History

Built in 1789, it’s a Kentish smock windmill which means it has octagonal sides and a rotational cap on top. It’s owned by Kent County Council and managed by the Friends of Herne Village Windmill and on the Sunday we visited in mid late April, they couldn’t have been friendlier.

It was built by a miller named Job Lawrance and replaced an earlier post mill on the site.

For me, retaining knowledge of windmills, is a bit like the process of milling flour itself. A lot of work goes into it and only a small bit is left at the end. Each floor had a collection of models and mechanisms connected to the milling process. Corn was last milled in 1952 and as a boy, Terry, who later went on to farm nearby, used to help the Wootton brothers, who were the last millers before Clive Wootton retired in 1980. The mill has been restored to working order, with four patent sails installed in 1997.

The website says that it was then used as a butterfly farm and a garden centre, but Terry’s tales told of its use as a storage for counterfeit certificates by a less than honest Kent councillor.

The size of the windmill was increased when an additional level was built in the Victorian age as it was thought that the surrounding orchards were decreasing the power of the sails. We went up three levels and Terry hopes to install CCTV to let visitors see into the top cap area as well.

Our tour of Herne Windmill

The views were amazing, back to Herne Bay and across in land. The countryside certainly did seem more undulating and rolling than the flat lands I’d imagined from the map.

As with any old building there’s an ongoing process of maintenance, as rotten shutters are replaced and fantail is looked after. The windmill’s currently awaiting new parts but the advice was not to hold your breath. It will take more than the huge gusts of wind, readily available just across the Bay at Reculver, to bring this beauty back to full working order.

Until then, enjoy the view, marvel at the mechanics, and listen to Terry’s enjoyable tales of wind and sail. Fortunately, unlike KCC’s finances, they’re not in short supply.

DISCOVER MORE OF LOCAL KENT

Herne Village

The village of Herne, itself, is only a short walk away. We stopped for a drink in the Smugglers. Opposite, the Butchers Arms, is now a cosy micro pub and the village centre is full of houses with wooden beams and timber frames. Another former pub, still has the sign hanging outside but is now a private house.

Also close by is Strode Park House is a 19th Century Victorian Mansion, built in the Italianate style and set in 14 acres of beautiful grounds. It’s a home for people with disabilities and has a 300 seat amphitheatre in the park grounds.

There’s a nearby strikingly ornate Catholic church which according to the listings outside, still celebrates a Latin mass. I couldn’t tell if it was still open but the main church in the village, St Martin’s had a mass of scaffolding about it due to restoration works.

It’s also a convenient point to catch the bus back to Herne Bay. With services every 15 minutes make sure you don’t just stare out to sea next time you visit Herne Bay. We have really enjoyed visiting Herne Village Windmill and we will be definitely back later in the year and bring our friends.

Practical information for visiting Herne Village Windmill

Opening times

  • The windmill is open to the public on Sundays and bank holidays from Easter through to the end of September, from 2pm to 5pm. Last admissions are at 4:30pm.
  • During July and August, the windmill is also open on Thursdays from 2pm to 5pm.
  • Outside of these regular open days, the windmill can be opened by appointment for groups.
  • Special event days may also be scheduled throughout the year, such as for National Mills Weekend.
  • Opening is dependent on availability of volunteer staff

Ticket Prices

  • Admission for adults is £2 per person
  • Admission for children under 16 years old is free
  • Family tickets are available for £5 (2 adults and up to 3 children).
  • Group rates are available, with admission £1.50 per person for groups of 10 or more
  • Guided tours for groups can be booked in advance for £3 per person
  • Special event prices may differ from the regular admission prices
  • Annual passes are available for £6 per person

How to get to Herne Village Windmill

  • By car: The windmill is located on Mill Lane in Herne Village. From the A291, turn south onto Mill View Road. The windmill is about 1/4 mile north of Herne Village. There is free parking available near the windmill.
  • By public transport: You can take a train to Herne Bay station, then catch the number 6 bus towards Canterbury. Get off at the stop for Herne Village, which is about a 10 minute walk from the windmill.
  • On foot: The windmill is accessible by public footpaths from Herne Village to the south and Broomfield to the north. It’s about a 1 mile walk from Herne Bay train station.
  • By bicycle: National Cycle Route 1 passes very close to the windmill, so it can easily be reached by bicycle. There are various cycle hire options in Herne Bay

This blog post was originally published on 3 May 2017 and last updated on 22 January 2024

Discover Kent

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *