Howsham Mill
Encyclopedia
Watermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
located on the River Derwent
River Derwent, Yorkshire
The Derwent is a river in Yorkshire in the north of England. It is used for water abstraction, leisure and sporting activities and effluent disposal as well as being of significant importance as the site of several nature reserves...
in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
History
Howsham Mill dates back to c.1755 and is attributed to John Carr of York. It was built in the Gothic Revival style both as a working grist mill to grind grainsCereal
Cereals are grasses cultivated for the edible components of their grain , composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran...
into flour
Flour
Flour is a powder which is made by grinding cereal grains, other seeds or roots . It is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many cultures, making the availability of adequate supplies of flour a major economic and political issue at various times throughout history...
and as an eyecatcher or folly
Folly
In architecture, a folly is a building constructed primarily for decoration, but either suggesting by its appearance some other purpose, or merely so extravagant that it transcends the normal range of garden ornaments or other class of building to which it belongs...
within the formal parkscape of nearby Howsham Hall
Howsham Hall
Howsham Hall is a stately home in Howsham, North Yorkshire, England, built in the early 17th century. The hall is now a grade I listed building....
.
The mill was powered by a breastshot waterwheel connected by a gear wheel to millstones that grind the grain into flour.
Milling of flour ceased in 1947 and the building fell into decay by the 1960s.
Restoration
In 2004 the Renewable Heritage Trust was formed by local residents with the intention of preserving and restoring the mill.Fund raising, volunteer labour and grant funding, totalling £450,000 has enabled the installation of a new waterwheel and a modern hydropower
Hydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
system based on the Archimedean screw principle to generate electricity and help fund the project in the long term.
The first phase of the restoration was completed in 2007 and involved installing the new waterwheel and Archimedean screw as well as rebuilding the walls and roof of the granary to the north of the main building, allowing the installation of a kitchen and toilets as well as housing the control equipment for the hydro generation.
The second phase of the project which requires an additional £500,000 will connect the wheel and screw to the national grid allowing electricity generated to be sold as well as restoring the main building for use as an environmental study/community centre and eco camping barn. The finished building will house a permanent exhibition on the history of the mill, and an extensive library on climate change and renewable energy.
Restoration Village
In 2006 Howsham Mill was featured on the BBC television programme Restoration VillageRestoration (TV series)
Restoration, Restoration, Restoration is a set of BBC television series where viewers decided on which listed building that was in immediate need of remedial works was to win a grant from Heritage Lottery Fund...
presented by Griff Rhys Jones
Griff Rhys Jones
Griffith "Griff" Rhys Jones is a Welsh comedian, writer, actor, television presenter and personality. Jones came to national attention in the early 1980s for his work in the BBC television comedy sketch shows Not the Nine O'Clock News and Alas Smith and Jones along with his comedy partner Mel Smith...
. It won the North regional heat and was featured in the live National Final on Sunday 17 September 2006. Although Howsham Mill did not win, a £50,000 Project Planning grant was won by reaching the final.