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History and heritageFreeFamily days out

Union Windmill

Cranbrook, West Kent

Union Mill windmill rising above the weatherboarded rooftops of CranbrookPhoto of Cranbrook: Des Blenkinsopp, CC BY-SA 2.0

Photo of Cranbrook: Des Blenkinsopp, CC BY-SA 2.0

Built in 1814 and still kept in working order, the Union Mill is the tallest surviving smock mill in the British Isles and towers over the rooftops of Cranbrook. Volunteers open it on summer afternoons, when you can climb through the machinery and buy flour ground on site.

Highlights

  • Grade I listed smock mill, 72 feet tall, in full working order
  • Six floors of milling machinery and displays
  • Stoneground wholemeal flour usually on sale in the mill shop on open days
  • Teas on some open days and a children's event on the August bank holiday

Good to know

  • Kent County Council, which owns the mill, is looking for a new owner, so check the website for the latest news
  • Flour is ground only when there is enough wind
  • Cranbrook Museum is a short walk away and also free

Getting there

Union Windmill, The Hill, Cranbrook, TN17 3AHParking: No parking at the mill. There is a public car park and street parking nearby in Cranbrook.

Get directions

Checked on 30 October 2026 against unionmill.org.uk, unionmill.org.uk, unionmill.org.uk. Details change, so please confirm with the venue before you travel. How we check

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More things to do in Cranbrook

Nearby

Union Mill windmill rising above the weatherboarded rooftops of CranbrookPhoto of Cranbrook: Des Blenkinsopp, CC BY-SA 2.0
Pantomime and theatreCranbrook · under 1 km

Queen's Hall Theatre

This roughly 300-seat theatre inside the Cranbrook School grounds began life as a cinema in 1913 and now runs plays, musicals, gigs, comedy and film nights. It is the town's main stage, with a programme that runs from local productions to touring tribute bands and a Christmas show.

Prices vary by show and are on each event's booking page. Some events are free.Directions
Union Mill windmill rising above the weatherboarded rooftops of CranbrookPhoto of Cranbrook: Des Blenkinsopp, CC BY-SA 2.0
WalksCranbrook · under 1 km

Cranbrook Heritage Trail

A self-guided walk of ten stops round the old cloth town of Cranbrook, from the Vestry Hall and St Dunstan's Church to the Union Windmill on the hill. Green plaques mark points of interest on the way, and the free map tells the stories behind them.

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Union Mill windmill rising above the weatherboarded rooftops of CranbrookPhoto of Cranbrook: Des Blenkinsopp, CC BY-SA 2.0
History and heritageCranbrook · under 1 km

St Dunstan's Church, Cranbrook

Known as the Cathedral of the Weald, St Dunstan's is far bigger than a small market town needs, built on the wealth of Cranbrook's medieval cloth trade. Its golden sandstone stands out among the white weatherboarding of the town, and it is usually open for visitors to look round.

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