Camden Mill

Camden Mill is a former steam-powered flour mill built in 1879–80 by Henry Williams of Bristol, extended in 1892 by F.W. Gardiner. It stands on the north side of Lower Bristol Road in Bath.

The building is constructed from coursed squared limestone with tight joints, beneath a Welsh slate roof. Overhanging timber hoists project from the structure. Internally, the building is framed with timber beams supported on cast iron columns, with some brick fireproofing.

The mill is a large rectangular block designed with similar frontages to both the river and the road, enabling grain to be received and flour to be distributed onwards. The main elevation facing south onto Lower Bristol Road comprises six storeys and eleven bays, separated by full-height strip pilasters. Bays one and five each contain five taking-in doors; bays eight and nine each have two; bay ten has three. All doors are set in openings with segmental heads. Windows are four-light casements in segmental-headed openings, except for paired sashes in bays one and two on the ground floor, and smaller casements in the sixth floor of bays six and seven. A brick dentil frieze runs across the central section, with terracotta details framing the window openings at fifth and sixth floor levels. Gabled timber hoists project from the fifth and sixth floors of bays five and ten. The original entrance in bay ten has been infilled. The eastern gable elevation has five strip pilasters and a lunette window set within the gable above. The rear elevation facing the river has very similar treatment to the street front, with gabled timber hoists to bays seven and eleven, and taking-in doors in bays one, two, seven and eleven for loading from barges. Windows, doors and detailing match those on the main elevation. Throughout all elevations, cast iron bosses secured through the floor beam ends mark the internal floor levels externally.

Internally, timber beams are supported on a range of decorative corbels at the wall ends, and moulded cast iron columns set in rows. The columns clasp the beams, with decorative plates to the beam sides. The first floor features a fireproof ceiling of vaulted brick in the two easternmost bays; the remaining floors have boards over timber joists. The timber staircase with plain square section balusters and wreathed handrail dates from the building's refurbishment in the 1980s.

The mill was built soon after the destruction by fire of the previous Oil Cake Mills in 1879. The building was converted to office use in 1974–75. It has group value with the nearby Camden Malthouse and Grain Silo, both listed at Grade II.