Wellesbourne Watermill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wellesbourne Watermill |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | Watermill |
| Location | Kineton Road, Wellesbourne |
| OS grid reference | SP 28437 54414 |
| Area | Warwickshire |
| Built | 1834 |
| Owner | Walton Estate |
|
Listed Building – Grade II
|
|
| Official name: Wellesbourne Mill and Mill House | |
| Designated | 20 April 1988 |
| Reference no. | 1382030 |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Wellesbourne Watermill is an old and important flour mill located near Wellesbourne, Warwickshire, England. It sits on the River Dene. This mill is a special building, protected as a Grade II listed building. People describe it as a "very complete example of a mill and mill house."
This mill has a long history. It stands on a site mentioned in the Domesday Book. The Domesday Book was a huge survey of England. It was ordered by William the Conqueror way back in 1085.
Contents
The Mill's Story: How Old Is It?
The Wellesbourne Watermill was once called Byford Mill. It was rebuilt in 1834. This means the current building is almost 200 years old!
When Did the Mill Stop Working?
The mill worked as a business until 1958. For some time, it used a belt drive from a traction engine instead of just the water wheel. The water wheel itself was last used in 1939.
What About the Mill House?
The mill house, where the miller lived, is even older than the mill building. It was built in the 1700s. A door from an older post mill (a different type of windmill) that used to be nearby is now on the mill office. This door has the date 1785 on it.
Who Owns the Mill Now?
In 1988, the Hamilton family, especially Sir Andrew Hamilton, helped fix the watermill. They worked with a mill expert named David Nicholls. The mill is still owned by the Walton Estate. Today, the mill is not open to visitors. The old mill house is now a private home.
How the Mill Works: Inside the Machinery
A watermill uses the power of flowing water to turn large stones. These stones then grind grain into flour. The Wellesbourne Watermill has a special type of water wheel. It is called a breastshot wheel. This means the water hits the wheel about halfway up.
What Are the Main Parts of the Mill?
The water wheel inside the mill is very big. It is about 17 feet (5.2 meters) across and 6 feet (1.8 meters) wide. It has three sets of wooden arms around its main axle.
- Pit Wheel: An 8-foot (2.4-meter) iron wheel is connected to the water wheel's axle.
- Wallowers: This pit wheel turns a smaller iron wheel called a wallower. The wallower is about 3 feet 2 inches (0.97 meters) across.
- Spur Wheel: The wallower then turns a very large spur wheel, which is about 7 feet 4 inches (2.2 meters) across.
- Stone Nuts: Finally, the spur wheel turns two smaller parts called stone nuts. These are about 18 inches (46 centimeters) in diameter. The stone nuts are directly connected to the grinding stones.
All these parts work together. They transfer the power from the water wheel to the grinding stones. This is how the mill turns grain into flour.
