MARGATE, DRAPER'S WINDMILL RESTORATION
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Summary of the recent restoration work, 2002 - Peter Cobley The mill was in a dilapidated condition when acquired by KCC in 1968 and a programme of restoration was then carried out under the Draper's Windmill Trust. Draper's windmill is now completely restored. The location of Draper's mill was once completely rural but it is now part of Margate. However, open land still exists to the south (a school site) and to the north (a field owned by the County Council). The initiative for preservation of the Mill came from Mr R. M. Towes, the then Headmaster of the school who opposed redevelopment of the site for housing. Since then, local support has ensured that the mill is open to the public and well used. The enthusiastic group of volunteers is restoring internal shafts, gears and bearings and has acquired a gas engine to enable the mill to be run on windless days. Funding is being raised for this restoration work. The volunteers are also, with KCC's help, laying out and planting a miller's garden. It is intended to grow seed for milling demonstrations, particularly for school visits. Work on the repair of the mill is complete and included repairs to smock frame, cap, reboarding, tarring and repainting, rebuilding the sweeps, replacing shutters and stocks.
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The photograph above, by Mildred Cookson, shows the mill under repair. The sweeps of the mill were removed first, and stand on trestles in front of the scaffolded smock tower. The cap has been removed to ground level, and the iron poll end, together with a steel midling to which the sails attached, can be seen in the right foreground. Peter Cobley, left, discusses elements of the proposed repairs with the millwrights responsible for the project, from Dorothea Restorations Ltd.
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