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 on the River Brue in Pitcombe, near Bruton, Somerset, England. It has a long history, dating back to the 13th century, and still uses some of its original machinery today.
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The History of Gants Mill
Gants Mill has been an important part of the local area for a very long time. There has been a mill on this exact spot since around 1290. Back then, it was a fulling mill. This means it was used to clean and thicken wool cloth.
How the Mill Got Its Name
The mill gets its name from a person named John le Gaunt. He owned the mill way back in 1290. For four centuries, the Weston family owned the mill. Records about the mill are kept safe in the Somerset Record Office.
What is a Listed Building?
Much of the mill you see today was built in 1810. However, it includes parts from the 1700s. It might even have pieces from earlier mills. Gants Mill is a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a very important historic building. It is protected to make sure it stays standing for many years.
How Gants Mill Works
Gants Mill still uses much of its old machinery. This equipment dates back to 1888. It includes large grindstones, conveyors, and grain bins.
Grinding Grain
The mill uses these machines to grind animal feed. Sometimes, it also grinds whole wheat flour. This shows how old technology can still be useful today.
Powering the Mill
Originally, water power turned the mill's machinery. In 1883, steam power was added. This was a big change for the mill. Later, in 1914, semi-diesel engines replaced the steam power. This shows how technology at the mill changed over time.
Generating Green Energy
Gants Mill is not just a historic site. It also helps produce clean energy. The South Somerset Hydropower Group started in 2001. Their first turbine was installed at Gants Mill.
The Hydropower Turbine
The turbine at Gants Mill began working in 2003. It was officially turned on by Adam Hart Davis in April 2004. This turbine can produce up to 12 kilowatts of electricity. It uses a special type of turbine called a crossflow turbine. This turbine was made by Valley Hydro in Cornwall. It can handle a lot of water, up to 495 litres per second.
The Miller's Family
Running a mill is often a family tradition. 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 involved with the mill for a very long time.
The Beautiful Water Garden
Besides the mill itself, Gants Mill also has a lovely water garden. This garden is a beautiful place to visit. It features different flowers that bloom throughout the year.
Seasonal Flowers
You can see many types of flowers in the garden. These include colourful irises, fragrant roses, tall delphiniums, and bright day lilies. There are also climbing clematis and cheerful dahlias. The garden changes with the seasons, offering new sights all the time.
