Mill, attached house and former drying kiln is a Grade II* listed building in the Somerset local planning authority area, England. First listed on 23 May 2011. Mill. 3 related planning applications.

Mill, attached house and former drying kiln

WRENN ID
lapsed-column-spring
Grade
II*
Local Planning Authority
Somerset
Country
England
Date first listed
23 May 2011
Type
Mill
Source
Historic England listing

Description

Water-powered corn mill (now disused), attached house and former drying kiln. Dated 1793 with earlier origins and some minor 19th and 20th century alterations.

The mill is constructed of Hamstone ashlar with red brick to the north-east gable end; in places the walls are lined internally with brick. The attached house is of Hamstone blocks to the front and stone rubble to the rear, under a slate roof. The former kiln has walls of stone rubble, though the eastern bay is built of random rubble, coursed Hamstone blocks and brick. Plain tile roofs with stone slates at the eaves; the roof of the house is clad in slate.

The complex has an irregular plan consisting of a rectangular range formed by the water-powered mill to the south-west end and the lower two-bay house to the north-east. The late-17th century former corn-drying kiln is set at right angles and linked to the house by a 19th century addition. The linking corridor and pigsties attached to the kiln are not of interest.

The four-bay mill building, which is built into a slope, has two storeys with a cellar and a loft. Windows are square-headed mullions with hollow-chamfered surrounds and leaded lights. The front (south-east) elevation has timber double doors under a timber lintel to the left-hand (south) bay which open onto the wheelpit. The overshot waterwheel was removed in the mid-20th century. To the right are two three-light windows and a small opening at a lower level providing access to the cellar. The principal entrance is to the far right and has a beaded surround and a flat moulded hood over. It is approached by a short flight of stone steps. The first floor has three equally-spaced windows each of three lights. The south return has a second opening to the wheelpit and a four-light mullioned window to both the first and attic floors. The rear elevation has an off-centre doorway with a flat hood and a plank door which is accessed from the embankment of the mill pond. To the left is a three-light window and beyond this, a window at ground-floor level.

The lower two-bay house is of two storeys. It has a symmetrical front with a central entrance, accessed from the single-storey linking corridor, and a window to either side. To the first floor are two three-light casements. There are 19th and 20th century windows in the south return. The rear has a long catslide roof along much of its length and a tall window with glazing bars to the right (south-west) which may mark the original position of the staircase. To the south-east of the house is the former kiln where grain would have been dried prior to grinding. It is a one and a half storey building of late-17th century date that was extended eastwards by a single bay, probably in the late 18th century when the mill was rebuilt. The south elevation has a three-light casement window under a timber lintel, and a doorway with a stable door to the eastern end; the rear has an inserted window. The pigsties attached to the east gable wall are not of interest.

The mill is well preserved internally. Although the waterwheel has been removed, the cast-iron launder survives at the rear of the wheelpit. The ground floor of the mill has heavy, pit-sawn beams to the ceiling and the remains of a Hurst frame (internal framework that supported the gears to prevent damage to the building from the vibrations of the workings) and the main shaft. There are timber stairs between the floors to attic level, and a blocked doorway to the first floor provided access through the miller's house. The first floor also retains two sets of millstones, along with evidence for a third, as well as their wooden housing, though some is no longer in situ, including the tun (removable wooden case enclosing millstones), horse (wooden frame supporting the hopper), shoe and hopper for each set. No other machinery survives, except for the control mechanism for the sluice at the rear of the building. The third or bin floor has a central raised walkway with a series of grain bins to either side; the sack hoist and its mechanism survive beneath the walkway. A plaque set above the attic window is inscribed: 'W B / Bought 1737 / Rebuilt / Finished / in 1795', although the latter date may read '1775'.

The interior of the house is of lesser interest, but does retain an inglenook fireplace and, although the roof has been renewed, late-18th century collared trusses and a row of purlins remain in situ. The interior of the kiln building appears to have been used for domestic purposes since at least the late 19th century. The drying kiln hearth survives but a fireplace with 19th century timber surround has been inserted in its west wall. Also to the ground floor is a late-17th century chamfered ceiling beam with angled straight-cut stops. A staircase leads to the attic storey.

To the rear of the mill are further associated features including the earthworks of the leat and a mill pond with brick retaining walls. The mill race enters the mill through a flat-arched opening at the south-east corner of the pond.

Detailed Attributes

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