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PAPER MILL CHIMNEY, SOUTH DARENTH
Few will be unaware that our chimney has been included in the statutory list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest. It was Grade II listed on 13 August 2003. This is great news for those who wanted to help safeguard the chimney's future, but what exactly does being "listed" mean? Well, a listed building must not be demolished, extended or altered in any way, inside or out, without Listed Building Consent from the District Council. If any work is carried out without consent, the penalties are heavy. Prosecution in the courts can lead to a prison sentence or an unlimited fine. This is not to say that the chimney can't now be demolished but it will be much easier for SDC to argue for its
retention.
All buildings built before 1700 surviving in anything like their original state are listed as well as most buildings built between 1700 and 1840. Those from the period 1840 to 1914, like our 1881 chimney, have to be structures of definite quality and character, so the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport must have agreed with local people that the chimney contributes in an outstanding way to the character of South
Darenth. Sevenoaks District Council officers agree.
Our listed chimney brings to 42 the total number of listed buildings in our parish. Franks Hall is Grade I (only buildings of the most exceptional interest), St Mary's Church is Grade II * (buildings of particular importance) and all others are Grade II including Reynolds Place,
Giffords, Avenue House, Rashleigh Lodge, Old School Cottage and many farm buildings. The bridge over the Darent in Franks Lane is also listed. The central warehouse building is the only other building on the Paper Mill site that is listed.
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