Mill At Gun'S Mills

The Mill at Gun's Mills is a Grade II* listed building located in Littledean, originally constructed as a blast furnace in 1628, rebuilt in 1682/3, and later converted into a paper mill by 1743. The structure features coursed, squared rubble for the furnace and blowing chamber, with ashlar dressings and a corrugated-iron roof on the blowing chamber. The upper building is a mix of rubble stone and timber-framed construction, topped with a slate roof.

The mill is designed in an 'L' shape, pivoting around the furnace, with wings at different levels. The square blast furnace is situated at a lower level, characterized by a tapering recess on the main face and a roof that slopes back to the main wall line, supported by two iron lintels. There are doors at the ground floor and in the sloping face above. This tapering recess is mirrored on the left return in the blowing chamber, which features dated iron lintels.

Inside, the square chamber has sloping walls rising above 2 meters, with a narrow top now covered by a stone slab in the floor of the room above. The blowing chamber on the left has an opening facing the furnace, followed by two unclosed windows. The upper part of the wall has been rebuilt in concrete block, originally housing two floors. Behind the pit, there is a 7.5-meter-long space for an overshot water wheel, with a small arched recess in the back wall. The area in front of the furnace and blowing chamber served as the casting floor.

The upper level is positioned at right angles to the furnace, timber-framed over the furnace with three bays, originally built as a paper mill. The gable wall features wattle and daub infill, with open or glazed sides in two panels per bay. There is a partition leading to a stone section beyond, which has three bays and a floor at eaves level. The trusses are queen strut style. The stone section includes two large openings in the gable and one in the side leading to a four-bay wing.

The original furnace was likely destroyed in 1650 and rebuilt in 1682/3. The mill continued to operate as a paper mill until at least 1900, with the furnace area converted into stairs. A mill pond was located beyond the house but has since been filled in. The Mill at Gun's Mills is considered to be the best remaining example of the earliest phase of British blast-furnace practice.