An Ashford landmark is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.

The Willesborough Windmill - which still produces its own flour - is marking its milestone birthday with a catalogue of events.

The first was held last week in the form of a cream tea and fashion show, organised by Pat White and Gill Whitling.

Volunteers modelled clothes from the Edinburgh Woollen Mill, based at Longacres Garden Centre in Kennington, while guests enjoyed the afternoon treats.

Pat, from the Friends of Willesborough Windmill, said: “It was erected in 1869 but we don’t know what month exactly so we’re hogging the whole year for our celebrations.”

Other events planned include a garden party in July, while a 9ft model of the mill covered in flowers will be installed in the Memorial Gardens in town this summer.

Pat added: “We have loads of events planned this year for our anniversary. We hope people will come and see us and see what we do.

“We’ve had people visit from all over the world - Canada, Australia, Asia.

“It’s very interesting. We get people to put a pin in a map to show where visitors have come from.”

The windmill, based in Mill Lane, Willesborough, was originally built in 1869 for flour production, with wind relied on to turn the sweeps.

Three years later, a steam engine was added to allow the mill to keep working when the wind dropped.

But due to economic reasons this was removed in 1911 and more reliable gas-oil engines were installed.

They continued to provide power until replaced by a motor in 1938 when electricity came to Willesborough.

But the sweeps finally stopped turning in the late 1930s when the mill could no longer compete with the local roller flour mills.

It changed over to producing animal feed, grinding peas and beans, and crushing oats and maize, and some flour, until it ceased operation in the 1950s.

It was then used for storage and later as a home until 1989.

It was bought, in a very dilapidated state, and fully restored in 1991 to its former glory by Ashford Borough Council.

The Friends of the Windmill then took it over in 2003 and further restoration took place.

Now it is one of the town’s oldest tourist attractions - suited for family days out, weddings and events. As well as tours around the windmill, refreshments are served in the barn.

It is open to the public every weekend between the end of March and October, plus Wednesday afternoons in the summer holidays.

Guided tours lasting about 45 minutes are on offer explaining the history of the mill and how it works.

Children are also able to have a go at producing their own flour.

The Friends of the Windmill are also hoping to recruit some more volunteers, ideally with a wide skill set.

Pat said: “From serving cream teas, to a bit of DIY or running tours, we need lots of people with different talents for lots of jobs.”

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