Reply To: Turkey Mill (Maidstone)

An interesting point about Turkey Mill was its proximity to the Otford – Ashford railway line that was on a steep gradient at that point, the viaduct carrying the line over the approach road off the A20 was provided with tall side walls and a roof to prevent sparks and smuts from hard working steam engines from afflicting the mill. The roof was removed, presumably when the railway was electrified in 1962, and later the side walls cut down and replaced by metal railings when the Eurostar trains started to use the line as a diversionary route.

There was a short siding off the up line on the Maidstone side of the viaduct, with a sort of chute on wheels next to it, visible from both the trains and also from Mote Park. I never saw any wagons in the siding but would like to know if it was for unloading coal into a cart to feed the mill?

The stone wall along the southern boundary of the mill with Mote Park was relatively low at one point and on the mill side was a short wooden ladder. It appeared to be a short cut for employees living on the Foster Clarke estate, saving a long walk via Square Hill and Mote Avenue. As children we used to clamber up and walk along the top of the wall – one or two more adventurous souls went down the ladder and off down the path beyond, but as the mill was still in use and noises emanating from the building just beyond the undergrowth most of us stayed out!