White Mill Rural Heritage Centre

Built in 1760 and still in use until the 1950's the White Mill is now the centrepiece of a fascinating museum of rural life. Visit the miller's house, forge, workshops and mill to gain an insight into rural life of centuries past.

Attraction Sandwich

Where

The Causeway
Ash Road
Sandwich
CT13 9JB

What3words location

rates.jolt.opens

Useful info

  • Family-friendly
  • Dog-friendly
  • On-site parking (charges may apply)
  • Visitor toilet/s
  • Coach parties welcome

Admission

Free entry

Contact

The White Mill was built in 1760 and amazingly still has most of its original wooden machinery. The windmill supplied flour and animal food to the local area, and worked on until 1957. Various restorations have occurred over the since the 1960s, the most recent being the windmill cap, which was placed back on top of the mill in August 2023. Although no longer a working windmill, the machinery is kept in top condition and the buildings and equipment are lovingly tended by volunteers.

The Miller’s Cottage, built in the 1830’s, and outbuildings are rare survivors of a complete milling site. The museum is housed in the Miller’s Cottage and other buildings surrounding the mill. There are exhibits of farming and craft tools, kitchen and laundry equipment, plus a complete wheelwright’s workshop and a blacksmith’s workshop, complete with forge. The Engine House contains a Lister petrol engine which can be used to drive a Plate Mill to grind corn into flour.

Open year round on Tuesdays and Fridays:

  • 10am – 4pm on the 1st Sunday of April to September
  • 10am to 12pm from October to March

Although admission is free the cost of looking after the Mill is not small. Please consider making a donation - thank you. Events are held throughout the year, details of which can be found on the Mill's website and social media channels. 

The windmill covered in scaffolding and the cap on the ground beside it.
The mill has undergone serious restoration in recent years but the cap has now been replaced.