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Information below taken from their web site 2014.
In the early 1900's, the pub was popular with hop pickers – there were
several hop gardens in the nearby area. It also had its own Tug of War
and Goal Running Club teams. Goal running was a sport peculiar to East
Kent & the Weald, which became popular in the late 19th century and had
it's heyday in the early 20th century – it was essentially an organised
version of the game ‘tag', with teams of ten who played barefoot! Mill Lane, which runs alongside the pub, used to be home to Kennington
Mills, which were powered by steam, wind and water (from Kennington
Stream). The windmill was built in 1813 by Messrs. Hill, the Ashford
millwrights. From 1886 to 1892 the mills were worked by Mr Henry Sturgess Pledge. He
later went on to found the flour milling firm of H.S. Pledge & Sons Ltd,
consisting of Victoria Flour Mills & East Hill Mill in Ashford. Victoria
Flour Mills were working up until 1984 when they were gutted by fire and
sadly had to be demolished. East Hill Mill still stands but is now a
nightclub. The Kennington Mills were taken over in 1892 by Mr Charles Stanley from
Blean, who became the last miller to work them. After the mills closed,
the sails from the windmill were taken to Pluckley windmill. Now all
that remains is the base of the windmill and the Mill House, the mill
pond also having gone a long while ago. In remembrance of the Kennington Mills, we renamed the pub The
"Old Mill,"
and hope you will join us in continuing the history. |
