A mill was operating at Holborough as early as 838, although the site of the present mill is not necessarily the same. In 1684, the mill featured 2 pairs of stones and a 11' dia, 2'3 wide wheel. Present mill rebuilt in 1880, formerly a 2-storey building with a weather boarded 1st floor and central hoist. Mill produced animal feed for a few years in the 1890's before closing down. (1)

A number of chalk springs emerge from the base of Holborough Hill in the southern part of Holborough Park. These have fed a brook that drove Holbrough Mill, probably from late Saxon times. At some time after 1769 a series of ponds and watercourses were formed, as shown on a tithe map of 1845. This designed landscape used former quarries that had been dug around the chalk springs. In 1881 the property was inherited by William Roberts who rebuilt Holbrough House. In 1882 he bought land south of the South Pond to extend his pleasure grounds. He also added several design features such as artificial rockwork made from overfired bricks, a built terrace, a well head, a set of steps up to a 120m long raised walkway, bridge abutments and an island in the North Pond. Further structures were added later, possibly between 1898 and 1909. These included a small pavilion and a number of concrete water tanks that may have served as fisheries.

From the 1920s Roberts gradually sold off the land. In 1928 the property passed to British Portland Cement. The house was pulled down soon after and the land became a pleasure ground. Numerous features survive today including bridge abutments, a pavilion, ditches and a tank around the North Pond, the steps to the walkway and the 1880 Mill Building.(2)

<1> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, J Ashbee Little Hist of Snodland (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<2> CKC Archaeology, 2004, An archaeological desk and field assessment of ponds and associated features in Holborough Park, Snodland, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE15680.