Protecting three of Ashford’s best loved heritage landmarks

Ashford Borough Council is proposing to spend £1 million to protect and improve three local landmarks: the Hubert Fountain in Victoria Park, Woodchurch Windmill and Ashford’s First World War Mark IV tank. The plans were agreed at the Council’s Cabinet meeting on 14 May 2026.

These three sites have been identified as priorities based on their significance to Ashford’s heritage and the urgency of work needed to safeguard them.

Ashford has a rich local history and many protected buildings and places. The Council looks after a number of heritage sites and wants to make sure they are safe and in good condition for years to come.

The work will help protect important parts of Ashford’s story, improve public spaces, and create chances for local people to get involved through volunteering, education and events. The Council will also look for grant funding and partners to help the projects go further.

Cllr Noel Oveden, Leader of Ashford Borough Council, said: “These are three of Ashford’s most important and well‑known landmarks. This investment would help protect them and keep them part of our borough for the future. We know people care deeply about these assets. We’ll work with community groups and heritage organisations, and apply for external funding where we can, to make the best use of the money we are investing.”

In February, Cabinet agreed to set aside £1 million to repair and restore the Council’s listed heritage assets. Officers then reviewed the Council’s sites and recommended focusing on three where the need is most urgent.

The proposal is to allocate up to £300,000 towards the restoration of each of the Hubert Fountain, Woodchurch Windmill and the Mark IV tank. The remaining £100,000 would be used to help maintain other heritage assets the Council owns.

• The Hubert Fountain (Victoria Park): repair and restore the fountain to stop further deterioration and protect a key feature of the park.
• Woodchurch Windmill: carry out repairs following storm damage so it can be made safe and reopened to visitors.
• WWI Mark IV Tank: tackle corrosion and stabilise the structure to prevent further damage while longer‑term options are explored.

“Woodchurch Windmill is not simply a building within our village — it is an important and recognised part of Kent and national heritage," representatives from the Woodchurch Heritage Trust, the Society of Friends of Woodchurch Windmill and the Woodchurch Parish Council stated in a joint statement. "The windmill has long been one of the defining landmarks of our village, attracting visitors from across the UK and Europe.

"It has featured on a UK postage stamp and has appeared in television and cinema productions. The local community has worked in partnership with ABC for decades to help maintain, manage and open the mill to the public.

"Woodchurch Heritage Trust, the Society of Friends of Woodchurch Windmill and the wider Woodchurch community are genuinely pleased to see Ashford Borough Council now demonstrating a renewed commitment to its heritage assets, particularly Woodchurch Windmill.

“The village community very much looks forward to seeing the mill fully restored in accordance with its listed status and would warmly welcome the opportunity to once again work in partnership with Ashford Borough Council to help restore, maintain and promote this important part of Woodchurch, Kent and UK heritage for uture generations.”

Ashford Borough Council recognises the importance of its heritage assets, the value they hold for local people, and their contribution to the life of the borough through tourism, placemaking and civic identity.

It is also essential that these assets are well managed and properly maintained to ensure they remain in good condition for future generations.

The Council will confirm the programme and timings in due course, as well as sharing updates as plans are developed.