Grey'S Mill

Grey's Mill is a water and steam mill, later used as a warehouse, constructed in 1858. It is built of painted brick in English bond and comprises five bays aligned northeast to southwest, with an attached engine house consisting of three narrow parallel ranges also aligned northeast to southwest and facing southeast. The mill itself is four storeys high with a loft, while the engine house is single-storey.

The southwest elevation of the mill has two windows on the ground and first floors, three on the second floor, and one on the third floor. All windows are original cast iron casements of twelve lights, with cast iron lintels. A large semi-circular cast iron casement is present in the loft. There are modern double doors on the ground floor, and original double loading doors on the first floor. Giant pilasters are present at the corners and also appear in pairs on each return, with simple brick capitals and bases. The left elevation has five similar windows on the ground and second floors, four similar windows and a central pair of double loading doors on the first floor, and no windows on the third floor. The mill has a low-pitched roof with long overhangs. The engine house features three original cast iron casements with semi-circular heads. The gable of the middle range extends above the outer ranges and contains a round cast iron window.

The mill interior retains much of its original character, although the machinery has been removed. Fine quality imported pine transverse beams, approximately 9.20 metres long, are supported on cast iron stanchions on the ground, first, and second storeys, with replaced wooden posts on the third storey. Roof trusses have two raking struts in each pitch. Original internal stairs extend to the full height at each end of the building. A modern goods lift is located in the front left corner.

The mill was built for George Docwra following a fire that destroyed the previous mill in 1858; the engine house was added before 1872. In 1872 the mill used water and steam power to drive six pairs of stones, with five pairs operating continuously 24 hours a day, six days a week, and it was insured for £2,000. A square chimney, originally located at the rear of the engine house, was demolished in 1976 due to its dangerous lean.