Howsham Mill

Howsham Mill is a Grade II listed[1] 18th century watermill located on the River Derwent in North Yorkshire, England.

Howsham Mill in 2007, before restoration

History

Howsham Mill dates back to c. 1755 and is attributed to John Carr of York.[2] It was built in the Gothic Revival style both as a working grist mill to grind grains into flour and as an eyecatcher or folly within the formal parkscape of nearby Howsham Hall.

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.[3]

Restoration
New screw turbine

In 2004 the Renewable Heritage Trust was formed by local residents with the intention of preserving and restoring the mill.[4]

Fund raising, volunteer labour and grant funding, totalling £450,000 has enabled the installation of a new waterwheel and a screw turbine based on the Archimedean screw principle to generate electricity and help fund the project in the long term.[5]

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.[6]

Howsham Mill in 2019

The Mill was connected to the National Grid in 2010, allowing electricity generated to be sold. Restoration of the main part of the building was completed in 2013 providing facilities as an environmental study/community centre. A second, larger screw was commissioned in 2018 to provide additional hydro-electric generating capacity.[7]

Restoration Village

In 2006 Howsham Mill was featured on the BBC television programme Restoration Village presented by Griff Rhys Jones.[8] 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.[9]

References
  1. "Our heritage is crumbling away". Pickering Today. 11 July 2006. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
  2. "Mill rescuers power ahead as waterwheel arrives by river". Yorkshire Post. 8 May 2006. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
  3. "Mill project wins `hearts and minds' of planners". Ryedale Gazette & Herald. 18 January 2006. Archived from the original on 5 August 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
  4. "Date set for Griff to showcase project on TV". Thornton-le-dale Today. 29 August 2006. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
  5. "Architectural Heritage Fund - Annual Review 2006-07" (PDF). Architectural Heritage Fund. 2007. p. 39. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
  6. "Generating a new future". BBC North Yorkshire. 8 November 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
  7. "Howsham Mill Renewable Heritage Trust". Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  8. "Rural 'gems' in Restoration show". BBC News. 11 July 2006. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  9. Swales, Jeannie (19 September 2006). "Everyone's a winner..." BBC Action Network. BBC. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
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