Arsonists torch historic windmill
(ME12 - Tuesday, 11 March, 2008)

The devastated owners of a historic windmill ravaged by fire are convinced arsonists started the blaze and have offered a cash reward in a bid to bring them to justice.

Father and son construction team Bernie and Caleb Watson said they feared those responsible for the damage at the 194-year-old mill off Sheerness High Street would not stop until they had killed someone.

Caleb said: “We know someone broke in because the gate had been opened and a tool was stolen.

“These people will do it again and again, and they will kill someone. The fire could have easily spread from the mill to nearby flats and trapped the people inside.

“These people have got to be caught.” The police have ruled it was not an arson and the fire service have yet to complete their investigation into the cause of the blaze, but the father and son are convinced it was started deliberately.

Fire ripped through the Grade II listed windmill three weeks ago today, burning throughout the night until firefighters eventually managed to bring the blaze under control at 6am the following morning.

Bernie and Caleb said they had invested two years and more than £250,000 in restoring the mill to its former glory, only to see their dedication and hard work go up in smoke.

Days later the duo returned to the fire-ravaged site to assess the extent of the damage.

Caleb said the fire caused somewhere between £200,000 and £250,000 of damage and left the restoration project hanging in the balance.

He said: “At the moment it’s looking like it cannot be repaired, it’s terrible. But I’d like to thank the police, firefighters and 99 per cent of the public on the island for their kind words and support.” Specially-made wooden staircases, windows and doors went up in flames, thousands of pounds of water damage was inflicted and dozens of expensive metal beams were warped beyond repair.

Speaking on the day after the fire Bernie said: “We’re both absolutely gutted. We’ve worked solid on the windmill for two years and then someone comes along and burns it down over night.

“But for my son, it was his labour of love. He worked day in day out on it.”

Police Force: Kent

Address:
High Street
Sheerness
Kent
ME12