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Historic feature returned to skyline

Builder Colin Algar
Builder Colin Algar

An historic feature has returned to the skyline overlooking Reculver with the re-construction of the Chislet Mill as part of the building of a luxury new house.

The original 200-year-old grade two-listed windmill burned down in 2005 while it was being restored by the Society of Preservation of Ancient Buildings.

Now developer Colin Algar from Chestfield has painstakingly recreated the building and completed the project with the distinctive white spars and fan tail.

But inside, instead of the workings of a traditional mill, is a luxury kitchen on the ground level and a spiral staircase leading to two further small rooms with views over the countryside.

It was those views from the top of the original mill which the creater of the bouncing bomb, Barnes Wallis took advantage of to watch trials of his new weapon at sea off Reculver in the 1940s.

The mill is now attached to a new single storey, traditional four-bedroomed home via a glazed corridor which Colin’s firm C&A Contractors is putting the finishing touches to.

He said: "When I saw the opportunity to rebuild the mill, I just fell in love with the idea. But it turned out to be more difficult and expensive than I bargained for.

"But now it is finished and the spars and fan tail are in place, I think it looks fabulous and you can see it for miles around. It really has re-instated the feature that was missing from the skyline.

"The city council planners weren’t keen on the spars and fan tail but I was adamant and now think it really sets the mill off properly."

The property is up for sale for £795,000 with agents Foundation.

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