Union Mill, Cranbrook Registered charity no.1031879 Home  Visit Us  News & Events  History  Photo Gallery  Volunteering  Links

Photo Gallery Mill Pictures | Millers | Mill Workers | Delivery vehicles | Renovations 1958 | The mill since 2003 The State of the Mill - pictures over the last 140 years which reflect it's economic fortunes: pre1880 with the original wide staging 1906 - run down and neglected ca1930 - in good working order ca1940 - still in good order 1944 - showing chimney of engine house 1958 - awaiting restoration 1998 with black steel stocks 2005 - after Lottery restoration Millers/Owners of Cranbrook Union Mill - dates in brackets are the years when they ran the mill. Each picture is linked to a page about their time in charge of the mill. George Russell (1832-1850) John Russell (1832-1871) Ebenezer Russell (1871-1883) Hugh Russell (1883-1902) Caleb Russell (1902-1918) John Russell (1918-1956) Other workers - working in the mill or for the Union Mills Company Mlll workers on steps Hugh Russell left of dog Thomas Hinkley Frank Reeves Henry Hicks Miller/Foreman 1950s Reuben and Samuel Mercer Transport - How the flour and animal feedstuffs were delivered. Mill Workers and delivery cart ca1890 Hugh Russell on left Small Cart driven by Charlie Holyer ca1945 Mill lorry driven by Fred Bryant Renovations by Dutch Millwrights The Kent County Council took over the mill in 1958 and decided to employ Christiaan Bremer's team of millwrights from Adorp in the Netherlands to restore the mill and get the sweeps turning again. At that time there were no plans to grind grain although the stones were in working order. The opening ceremony was on 25th July and the last photo shows the Dutch team listening to the speeches from the staging. Pictures taken in the 1990s, with the black steel stocks installed by the Dutch millwrights. Sweps and spider mechanism Fantail and striking gear Repairing shutters In 2002-3, major renovations were carried out on the mill. There are lots of pictures HERE. The Mill since the 2002-3 renovations: After three years the outside of the mill had become very dirty with algae and accumulated dirt and in October 2007 KCC employed some "abseilers" to give it a good clean with soapy water and a scrubbing brush. More Abseiling 2010-2011: ONLY THREE years later the mill looked very dirty with the algae and dirt returning on the rough (unplaned) weatherboarding used in the 2002-3 restoration, so in October 2010 KCC employed more "abseilers" to clean and paint the mill - and tar the base as well. looking really white on the last sweep where's the other guy gone? and the brick base, too By 2016, the sweeps were in a poor state of repair and had to be removed due to rot in the timbers. One was completely rebuilt, the other three repaired, and these were re-installed on the mill in June 2017. You can see photos and find a link to a video of the whole operation HERE