Windmill Hill mill, Gravesend, Kent 🌍

An unspecified tavern and much of the Windmill Hill summit were up for sale in 1835. This probably included the windmill, but there were multiple taverns on the hill, so this is not certain. Morning Herald (London), 24 June 1835

Windmill-hill, Gravesend.- By Mr. SCOTT, at the Mart, on TUESDAY, July 7, at Twelve, in Two Lots,
A Valuable Freehold Estate, being 16 Acres of Land, and nearly the whole of Windmill-hill, with the Tavern and Public House at Milton, close to Gravesend, Kent, and most desirable for the erection of villas, and a splendid hotel, with saloon, library, assembly room, and select accommodation for families and the public, with promenade and entrance lodges. The admission to the saloon by a subscription ticket would alone produce a considerable income, exclusive of the great revenue arising from the union of an hotel with genteel recreation and respectable society, in a situation surpassing all others near London, on the road to Paris by Dover, and access to the City and Westminster by steam-packets in two hours at a small expense.- Particulars may be had at the principal inns at Gravesend; at the Mart; and of Mr. Scott, 8, Carey-street, Lincoln's Inn.

The proprietor of the Belle Vue Tavern, a successful local freemason in 1855 was bankrupt by 1861. Weekly Chronicle (London), 28 July 1855

MASONIC.
GRAVESEND.
No. 91. LODGE OF FREEDOM, AND No. 709. LODGE OF SYMPATHY.- The installation of these excellent lodges jointly took place on the 16th inst. at Wates' Hotel. Br. Robert Spencer (91) and Br. Thomas West (709) being the W.M.'s elect, the ceremonies of installing being performed in admirable style by Br. Moore, P.P.G.S.D. for Kent, whose masonic knowledge render him an authority, not only in his own locality, but wherever freemasonry is to be found. The W.M. of No. 9 appointed the following brethren as his assistant-officers:- S.W., Br. Watson (the respected proprietor of Bell Vue Tavern, Windmill-hill); J.W., Br. Hills; S. and J.D., Brs. Tulk and Larnder; and J.G., Br. Stratford.

Thacker's Overland News for India and the Colonies, 26 October 1861

BANKRUPTS
...
WATSON, RICHARD, Belle Vue Tavern, Windmill-hill, Gravesend, licensed victualler.

The mill had already been converted to an observatory by 1858. There was always an awareness of the risk of fire, such as when there were celebrations for a royal visit. Daily News (London), 2 February 1858

DEPARTURE OF THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF PRUSSIA.
PROCESSION THROUGH THE CITY.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Prussia, attended by their suite, will leave Buckingham Palace at a quarter to twelve to-day. The procession will pass through the Strand and Fleet-street, Ludgate-hill, St. Paul's Churchyard, Cannon-street, King William-street, over London-bridge, through High-street, Dover-road, and enter the Bricklayers' Arms station, in the Kent-road. The Lord Mayor will meet the procession at Temple-bar, and conduct it to the railway terminus. His Lordship will accompany the royal couple to Gravesend, so as to be present at their departure. On account of the short notice which reached the Lord Mayor that it was the intention of their Royal Highnesses to pass through the City, there has not been sufficient time to make such preparations as could have been wished to welcome the royal visitors. Temple-bar, however, will be decorated with flags and banners, and every possible demonstration of loyalty and devotion will be made by the citizens of London during the passage of the royal procession.

...

In order to prevent any chance of accident to the Observatory or the Belle Vue taverns, the bonfire will be in a field at the back of Christ Church, on the Milton side of the town, whither all the materials have been conveyed.
The fireworks will be at 7 o'clock.

The tavern, and its attractions were a popular destination People's Paper, 31 July 1858

GREAT METROPOLITAN POLITICAL REFORM EXCURSION TO GRAVESEND, Rosherville Gardens; and BALL, at St. George's Hall, Southwark, on MONDAY, August 2, 1858.- The Committee for carrying out the above have the pleasure of announcing the most novel, interesting, and cheapest excursion ever submitted for public support; to give effect to which they have engaged the Rosherville Gardens (justly styled the Elysium of Kent), and submit the following
PROGRAMME
The Friends will meet at the Fenchurch-street terminus at a quarter to 9 o'clock. On reaching Gravesend a Procession will be formed, and proceed to the Belle-vue Tavern, on Windmill-hill, where the assemblage will meet brother Democrats from Chatham, Strood, Rochester, and the surrounding districts, and they will be addressed by the leading advocates of Democracy.
After the demonstration the procession will proceed to the Rosherville Gardens, to enjoy the festivities of that delightful resort. At eight o'clock the company will leave the gardens and return to London to a Grand Ball.
Tickets (including railway to Gravesend and back, to Rosherville Gardens, and to Ball in the evening at St. George's Hall, St. George's-road, Southwark), 2s. each; children, 1s.

The tavern, mill, and all the various attractions that had been constructed around it were up for sale in 1866. The Era, 10 June 1866

Gravesend .- The BELLE VUE TAVERN, Windmill-hill, with Possession.
MR. MARSH has received instructions to Sell by Auction, at the Guildhall Coffee-house, Gresham-street, on Thursday, June 28th, at Twelve, in Three Lots, Valuable Freehold and Leasehold Property, comprising the well-known
BELLE VUE TAVERN,
the Celebrated Mill (with Camera Obscura), Pleasure Grounds, Maze, Shooting Gallery, Bazaar, Photographic Establishment, &c., most delightfully situate on the summit of Windmill-hill, Gravesend, commanding uninterrupted views of the river Thames and the surrounding picturesque scenery. The premises are very commodious, and conveniently arranged for carrying on an extensive and lucrative business, and from their worldwide reputation and easy access, are the resort of many thousands during the summer months from all parts of London and the Country. With a small outlay, in the hands of an energetic man, must prove a highly remunerative investment, and with the large area great improvements may be judiciously carried out; also Malvern House, which forms a valuable adjunct to the Hotel; Four Brick-built Cottages, producing £52 4s. per annum, and the Miller's Cottage, in Shrubbery-road, with Pleasure Grounds, producing £25 per annum, productive kitchen garden and fruit stall. The Leasehold Portion is held for Thirty-three Years, unexpired, at the low ground rent of £80 per annum. May be viewed and particulars (with plan attached) obtained on the premises; of Messrs. Southgate and Son, Solicitors, Gravesend; of Tufnell S. Southgate, Esq., 7, King's Bench Walk, Temple; and at Mr. Marsh's Offices, 2, Charlotte-row, Mansion House.

By 1879, Mr Hart was running the tavern Lancaster Gazette, 18 June 1879

CLEVER CAPTURE OF BURGLARS.
A correspondent at Gravesend writes as follows:-
Several burglaries have been committed in Gravesend during the past few months, and although the local police have made every effort to discover the depredators, they failed in obtaining even the slightest clue, until early on Saturday morning, when two men were apprehended, named James Mantle, of Gravesend; and Joseph Hooker, of Northfleet. ... Amongst the stolen property now at Superintendent Berry's office ... are ... a large thick cord and tablets, to which several flags were attached, that were stolen from Mr. Hart's the Belle Vue Tavern, Windmill Hill, a short time since.

Although the mill had already been demolished, the Belle Vue tavern met its fate by fire in 1900 Hampshire Advertiser, 23 May 1900

FIRE AT GRAVESEND.- An item of a Mafeking relief carnival at Gravesend on Monday night was the burning of a huge bonfire on Windmill-hill. The heat of the fire ignited the Belle Vue Hotel, and at a late hour there was little hope that the building could be saved from complete destruction.