Blender Shed And Store At Longford'S Mill

This building is a blender shed and store, part of Longford's Mill. It dates to 1858 and is located partly in Avening and partly in Minchinhampton. It was originally one of the main woollen mill buildings, housing spinning and weaving operations. The building is in the shape of a large 'L'. The main block is constructed of coursed and dressed Cotswold stone with a double-range slate roof, featuring continuous rows of rooflights. A square ventilation louvre is centrally positioned on the front range, and a tall industrial chimney stands on the left side of the rear range.

The main block has two storeys and twelve windows, each containing eight panes in six pairs. The central two windows serve as ventilators, all set under segmental arches with stone voussoirs. The ground floor windows are similar but include an additional row of four panes, increasing their size. Sill bands run below both rows of windows. An entrance is located between the fourth and fifth window pairs, featuring a gantry and a large door above.

Inside, the space is supported by three rows of cast-iron columns, approximately 3.5 metres high. A smaller wing extends to the east, with a four-gable roof, the north-facing angles of which incorporate a continuous row of skylights. The remainder of this wing’s roof is slate, and the building is single-storey, constructed from rubble stone and brick. The gables are supported by continuous lengthwise timber beams, featuring a single cast-iron column in the centre of each beam for additional support.

The site has a long history of milling, and a building older than this one remains to the north, in Minchinhampton. The initials WP are inscribed to the left of the main entrance.