Martin Mill, Kent

Martin Mill is a village in east Kent, named after the nearby village of Martin. Its name derives from a windmill that operated commercially until about 1923. The mill’s sails were removed by its owner Sydney Hogben, an act that caused local outrage, and the remaining structure was demolished in the 1960s.

The village is served by Martin Mill railway station, situated on the Dover to Deal railway line. The original Martin Mill railway was built in 1897 by Pearson & Son to aid the construction of the Admiralty harbour. This line featured terraces cut into the cliffs to form a steep switchback path down to the harbour, and was dismantled in 1937 after plans to use it for passenger services failed.

During the Second World War, the railway was relaid as the Martin Mill Military Railway to supply coastal artillery batteries. It served large naval-type guns, including 14-inch and 13.5-inch railway-mounted weapons, with firing spurs laid along the line for precise aiming. Diesel-electric shunting locomotives operated the line to avoid revealing gun positions, and maintenance was carried out at nearby sidings.

The military railway was removed shortly after the war ended, leaving behind a unique chapter in the village’s history linked to both its railway heritage and coastal defence.