Thorverton Mill

SS 90 SW THORVERTON 8/114 Thorverton Mill - II Flour Mill. 1898, rebuilt after a fire. Grey limestone with brick dressings; 2 span bitumen-painted slate roof, gabled at ends. The internal arrangements of this large working mill have been altered for current usage. The original arrangements are described in detail in The Miller but, in brief, consisted of a roller milling section and wheat-cleaning department separated by a solid wall, each section separately roofed. The mill was powered by 2 water turbines driven by the Exe and was connected to the Exe Valley railway by a siding. The mill was lit by electricity and included granolithic silos described as "a pioneer installation" (The Miller). The water turbines and granolithic silos are still in use. 4 storeys. Imposing exterior, 5 bays to the sides; 3 to the gabled ends with timber casement windows with glazing bars and segmental brick arches. On the south east side there are 2 segmental brick arches where the leat flows out from under the building. Interior : The massive late C19 grain silos are constructed of granolithic, a type of cement based on crushed granite, patented by Stuart's Granolithic Stone Company, Limited, of Regent Dock, Limehouse London. Comparatively thin slabs of the material were considered to have extradordinary pressure-resistance in 1898. The original machinery was installed by Messrs Thomas Robinson and Son, Limited, of Rochdale who also erected the silos. The "Leffel" water turbines have diameters of 52 and 40 inches respectively; the original electrical supply was installed by Messrs Christy Bros. of Chelmsford with a dynamo driven by one of the turbines. An imposing rural industrial building. For a complete account see The Miller "British and Irish Flour Mills : Mr E.J. Coombe's New Roller Plant at Thorverton", October 3, 1898. p.p. 528-529.

Listing NGR: SS9354601771