Site layout

Production & Operation

Here's the 'lay of the land' as to how the Mill complex worked in some of it's busy years.

Evidence suggests that the previous Crabble Corn Mill was still in tact and working but with just one set of millstones (this is in close proximity to where the Tea Room is located now). It's likely, around this time that the 1812 mill was upgraded with a new waterwheel and governor systems, and additional millstones added.

Ancillary Buildings: The barns, granary, drying kilns and maintenance workshops were all on the other side of the river by-pass.

Millyard: In the yard were also two of the mill cottages along with, we understand, a stable for "Smiler" the horse and a small coach house for the cart. Cottage refurbishment and creating a permanent 'home' again for the cart is part of the next stage of the Regeneration Project.

Watercourses: The miller used the flowing water of the river Dour during the early part of the working day. When the river flow depleted, he would use the 'reserve tank of energy'. He opened the regulating sluice between the millpond and the river to allow the stored energy toward the waterwheel. At the end of the day he would drop the sluice again so the millpond would replenish overnight.
The weir allowed energy, surplus to requirements, to flow passed the mill and rejoin the river further downstream. It's zig-zag shaped to give a larger surface area so as not to cause a drag, pulling water the from where it's needed most, at the waterwheel.
There are other two regulating sluices along with the main sluice-board to the waterwheel.

All of this is subject to an elaborate conservation and management development plan in consultation and partnership with the Environment Agency and Rivers Authority, among others.

So much of the locality has been developed for housing in recent times and the mill ancillary buildings are either demolished or converted into more houses. It's important, for many reasons, to hang on to what remains and prevent this reduction happening further. One fundamental reason is the conservation and protection of England's sites of important industrial archaeology, such as this Mill. Hence it's Grade Two Star listing. The local designated Conservation Area is because of the Mill property, including it's remaining built structures, it's environs including the pond and the natural habitat of the flora and fauna.

Site plan, courtesy of Doug Welby