Gants Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gants Mill |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Pitcombe, Somerset |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°06′23″N 2°28′01″W / 51.1064°N 2.4669°W |
| Completed | 1810 |
Gants Mill is a historic watermill located by the River Brue in Pitcombe, a small village near Bruton in Somerset, England. This amazing mill has been around for a very long time, with parts of it dating back to the 18th century. It's still working today, grinding animal feed and even some flour!
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The Mill's Long History
Gants Mill has a very long and interesting past. People have used this exact spot for a mill since about the year 1290. The mill was first used for "fulling." This was a process to clean and thicken wool cloth, making it stronger.
How the Mill Got Its Name
The mill is named after John le Gaunt, who owned it way back in 1290. For four hundred years, the Weston family owned the mill. Important old papers about the mill are kept safe in the Somerset Record office.
Building the Current Mill
Most of the mill you see today was built in 1810. However, it also includes parts from an even older building from the 1700s. It might even have pieces from the very first mills that stood here centuries ago! Gants Mill is considered a special historic building, known as a Grade II* listed building.
How the Mill Works
Gants Mill uses the power of water to turn its machines. Most of the machinery inside, like the big grindstones, conveyors (which move things), sackhoists (which lift sacks), and grain bins, were put in place in 1888. These machines are still used today!
What the Mill Grinds
The mill mostly grinds animal feed now. But sometimes, it still grinds whole wheat flour for people to use. This shows how old machines can still be very useful!
Different Power Sources
Over the years, Gants Mill has used different ways to power its machines.
- In 1883, they started using steam power.
- In 1914, they switched to a "semi-diesel" engine.
- A special water turbine, called a British Empire turbine, was also installed. It was made by a company called Armfields.
Making Clean Energy: Hydropower
Gants Mill is also helping to make clean energy! The South Somerset Hydropower Group started a project here in 2001.
The Hydropower Turbine
In 2003, the first special machine, called a turbine, was set up at Gants Mill. This turbine uses the flowing water of the River Brue to create electricity. A famous TV presenter, Adam Hart Davis, officially turned it on in 2004.
How Much Power It Makes
This special machine is a crossflow turbine made by Valley Hydro. It can produce up to 12 kilowatts (kW) of electricity. That's enough to power several homes! It works by letting up to 495 litres of water flow through it every second.
The Miller's Family
Brian Shingler is the current miller at Gants Mill. He is the sixth generation of his family to work as the miller. This means his family has been running the mill for a very, very long time!
Visiting the Water Garden
Besides the mill itself, Gants Mill also has a beautiful water garden. Depending on the time of year, you can see lovely flowers like iris, roses, delphiniums, day lilies, clematis, and dahlias blooming there.
