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Tower stump survives
The site survives as the stump of the former Newchurch tower windmill.
Site overview
Newchurch Tower Windmill is represented by the surviving stump of a former tower windmill on Romney Marsh. The mill is reputed to have been built by the Reverend Nares in 1810, although a plaque on the surviving structure records “Tower Mill 1840”. It was the only tower windmill among the known windmills of Romney Marsh and worked as a corn mill within the low-lying marshland landscape.
The full mill had gone by the early twentieth century, with demolition recorded around 1906. The remaining masonry stump preserves the position and lower fabric of the former windmill within Newchurch.
Map
Map markers and directions links are provided for location reference only and do not indicate public access or permission to enter a site.
No site photograph is currently available. Images will be added as field visits are carried out.
History
Newchurch Tower Windmill was the only tower windmill among the windmills known to have stood on Romney Marsh. It is associated with the Reverend Nares, who is reputed to have built the mill in 1810. A plaque fixed to the surviving remains records “Tower Mill 1840”, preserving a second date directly on the structure.
The mill stood within the agricultural marshland landscape of Newchurch and worked as a wind-powered corn mill. Local history material links the site with the Reverend Nares' interest in grain, and the windmill formed one of the small number of milling sites serving the Romney Marsh settlements.
The complete windmill no longer survives. It was demolished around 1906, leaving a stump. The surviving remains preserve the lower masonry of the former tower mill rather than the cap, sails, windshaft, stones, or internal machinery. As a stump, Newchurch Tower Windmill remains a compact but legible survival of Romney Marsh wind-powered milling.
Timeline
1810
Tower mill reputedly built
Newchurch Tower Windmill is reputed to have been built by the Reverend Nares in 1810.
1840
Dated plaque recorded
A plaque on the surviving structure records “Tower Mill 1840”.
1906
Mill demolished
The tower windmill was demolished around 1906, leaving the surviving stump.
Sources and records
Windmills of Romney Marsh
Newchurch village history page
Windmill World site entry
List of windmills in Kent
Newchurch village history page
Windmill World site entry
List of windmills in Kent