Churchill Forge Mill facts for kids
Churchill Forge Mill is a really old workshop found in the village of Churchill in Worcestershire, England. It's super special because it's one of the last places in the UK where a forge mill powered by water is still in great condition and can even work! This makes it a very important part of the industrial history of the West Midlands area. A group called the Churchill Forge Trust now looks after the mill, and they've even fixed up parts of it so visitors can see it in action.
History of Churchill Forge Mill
Churchill Forge is located in a valley next to a stream called Ganlow Brook. A very long time ago, in the Middle Ages, people built a dam here. This dam created a pond, and water from the pond would flow through a special channel, called a sluice, to turn the mill's big wheels.
The earliest record we have of Churchill Forge is from a document called a charter in 1238. This paper shows that the land and the mill were given to Hugh Drugel when he married Margery. The mill changed owners many times over the years. By the late 1500s, records mention a "blade mill" and a pond here.
The Bache family played a big part in the mill's story. They had lived in the area for a long time. In the 1700s, William Bache ran another nearby forge. Later, his son, also named William, took over Churchill Forge in 1796 after marrying the daughter of the previous owner. The Bache family continued to own and run the mill for many years, even if some family members chose other jobs.
After World War I, Benjamin Bache came back to Churchill Forge. The mill had been closed because many workers went to war. Benjamin and his son Claude reopened the business. They called it "Benjamin Bache and Son, Spade, Blade, Shovel and Ladle Works." Claude Bache continued to run the mill after his father passed away, until he retired in 1969. You can still see a special gate at the mill with the Bache family name on it.
How the Mill Works
From the 1700s onwards, Churchill Forge was used to make many different tools. They made farm tools like spades, shovels, forks, rakes, and hoes. They also made special tools for local industries. For example, they made unique shovels called "skippets" for the nearby salt mines in Droitwich. They also made pouring ladles for the Stourbridge glass industry and metal factories in the Black Country.
The main water wheel in the mill is huge! It's 17 feet tall and over 5 feet wide. This giant wheel is connected to a strong iron axle (a thick rod). This axle used to power big trip hammers, which are like giant hammers that smash metal. Now, a gear on the axle turns a smaller gear, which then powers a flat belt. This belt makes other machines work, like different hammers and presses. There's also a crank on the axle that operates a "crocodile shear." This machine can cut through strong metal!
There's an even older water wheel from the 1800s. It's also 17 feet tall but not as wide. This older wheel has a wooden axle. It used to power the furnace blower for the forge and two wet grindstones, which were used to sharpen tools.
In 1979, a small group of people, including some of the Bache family, started a group to save the mill. This group became the Churchill Forge Trust Limited in 1981. They have done a great job keeping the building in good shape and the machinery working. On certain days, the mill is open to visitors, and you can even see the old machines in action!
