South Darenth

“Can you imagine this place before it was a village?” South Darenth’s history is surprisingly recent. It wasn’t always the bustling village it is today. It actually grew around the Horton Kirby mill. This mill was built back in 1820 by a man named Henry Hall. Before the mill, this area was mostly farmland and cottages, home to a few workers and a blacksmith. The mill started as a flour mill, providing jobs for the local community. Over time, the mill grew and transformed into a paper mill. This expansion took up a much larger area, even requiring them to divert the River Darent through a small tunnel. The paper produced here was known for its high quality, even used for magazines and important plans. As the 19th century ended, the mill expanded again. A boiler house and a towering chimney were built in 1881. To ensure the smoke cleared the valley, they added an extra 70 feet to the chimney in 1918, using mostly red brick. You can still see this impressive chimney today – it’s now a Grade 2 listed building. This growth meant more workers, so terraced housing sprang up nearby. The mill finally closed in 2003 and has now been redeveloped into housing and businesses. In fact, you’ll find a Co-op Food supermarket within one of the old mill buildings!