The Mill

The Mill is a former water-powered cornmill with integral drying kiln, located in Mill Lane in the Parish of Ashford in the Water. The building dates from the 18th century, with 19th and 20th century alterations.

The mill is constructed of coursed rubble limestone with gritstone dressings and quoins. The main mill building is roofed with stone slate laid to diminishing courses, whilst the kiln section is covered in pantiles with a louvred ridge vent. Gable end stacks are present on both sections.

The complex is L-shaped in plan, comprising a north-south range and an east-west range. The north-south range originally housed two water wheels—one at each gable end—though the southern wheelpit now contains a water turbine. The drying kiln is located within the east-west range, positioned to the north of the main mill race.

The north elevation shows two storeys with an advanced wing to the right and a former wheelpit at the gable base constructed of massive ashlar gritstone blocks. A tall gable contains a two-light mullioned window within a gritstone surround. Below this is a decayed gritstone band course and the blocked aperture for the former water wheel shaft. The east side wall features quoining for a now lost opening and a small four-pane window. The attached east-west range has a shallow segmental arch to a double doorway with plank doors at the junction of the two ranges. To the left of this doorway is a shallow two-light mullioned window. Above is a first floor taking-in doorway with plank doors and a fixed light window with glazing bars, set within a gablet framed in squared gritstone masonry.

The drying kiln building is attached to the east gable and has a louvred ridge vent. A low single-storey addition extends from its north wall, featuring a gable chimney and a plain doorway. The east elevation of the kiln shows a low doorway and two punch-dressed windows with small-paned glazing, the larger window having diamond-shaped panes. The small extension has an eight over eight-pane sash window. The kiln upper floor retains a small shallow arch-headed window. A narrow two-storey projection below a gablet stands to the left, followed by the wider gable of the north-south range, which has a two-light mullioned window at its apex. The base of this gable wall now houses the main drive shaft from the turbine in the former wheelpit. The west elevation contains three window openings: one two-light mullioned window and two with small-paned frames.

The interior has been substantially altered, particularly the flooring and partitions, which are mainly of late 19th century date. One bridging beam displays carved decoration of 17th century appearance, whilst other beams, posts and props are of variable quality. The upper floor contains much 19th and 20th century replacement timber, and plank storage bins have been fitted in the north-south range. The mill complex retains its near-complete drying kiln, including the kiln furnace and much of the drying floor composed of perforated tiles.

The mill was originally powered by two water wheels but latterly operated by a Gilkes turbine, installed around 1900 and still in situ. This turbine powers a main horizontal drive shaft linked to secondary gearing and drives to three pairs of millstones located on the south side of the east-west range. The secondary gearing, vertical shafts and stone nuts are housed within hurst framing behind a planked partition with low access doors. The wheeled turbine control mechanism sits in front of this partition on the mill floor. A vertical shaft carries the drive to the upper floor, where it powers belt drives, line shafting and hoists. The stone nuts and a first floor stone crane used to raise the upper of the two millstones are similar to those illustrated in 'A Treatise on Mills and Millwork' of around 1850 by the celebrated engineer William Fairbairn. Two pairs of stones and their fittings survive at the north end of the north-south range.