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| Coggeshall Abbey's mill in Essex |
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Chelmer Mill by the Chelmer and navigation river in Essex John Constable's Flatford Mill |
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| Olga Wisinger-Florian (1844–1926), Mill at Goisern (1880), |
At one stage I fell in love with mills, not so much the windmill but the wheel mill, over or undershot, which just means how the water turned it. I think the painting above is a fine example of how complicated it is.
The garden in Bath was situated in a valley and had had a stream running through to the mill below in Weston Lane. The stream had disappeared but there was remains of a little bridge in the garden. Interestingly, when they dug a pipeline through the valley, walling appeared in the garden, a leat for controlling the water.
There is a tidal mill by Carew Castle in Pembrokeshire, which is rather unusual, it is situated by the Castle but the mill is fairly modern.
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| Carew Tidal Mill |
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| Carew Castle |
And not forgetting "The Mill on the Floss" by George Elliot
What a charming journey through the world of mills! From Essex to Pembrokeshire, it’s fascinating how water and ingenuity shaped these beautiful structures. I love your mix of history, art, and personal memories it makes the mills feel alive, not just as buildings, but as part of life’s flow.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, the photo of fabulous Carew Castle blown me away. If I was there, I would be very happy to see everything there
I think Carew Castle was a Norman castle, part of the need for the Normans to keep the Welsh in check, but it was a hard job Asep. It was turned more and more into a home over the centuries though.
DeleteColin always fancied the idea of buying a watermill - don't know why- they always seem a bit damp.
ReplyDeleteThey are very romantic but probably not good for the health Sue and a lot of heavy work if you restored them as well.
DeleteWe have several old mill sites in my city but no actual buildings left, just a couple of old mill stones at a local park. A river runs through the city which is why Joe Naper settled here in what is now called Naperville. My grandkids go to Mill Street School.
ReplyDeleteIt is funny how we keep past history in the naming of things Ellen. Millstones can be found all over the country in Britain.
DeleteI believe that Woodbridge in Suffolk also has a working tidal mill.
ReplyDeleteYes just looked that one up Will. A fairly similar style of building but much more loved.
DeleteA lover of mills? Does that mean you were a fan of the Bertram Mills Circus and Mrs Mills the piano player?
ReplyDeleteNever been a fan of circuses Neil and I don't know Mrs. Mills but I do know John Mills the actor and his daughter Hayley!
ReplyDeleteI bet you are a big fan of Mills and Boon books!... "One Forbidden Kiss With the Laird" etc..
DeleteStop dredging ;) Though thought process says were those books the inspiration from such magazines as 'Woman's Own' which I see is still in operation.
DeleteWe have a working water mill (Burton Mill) down our lane that is up and running and milling local wheat into the best flour for baking. It is so fresh as it’s milled in small quantities and doesn’t stay on the shelves in our village shop for long. They now make a white flour too so perfect if you want to use half and half wholemeal/white. We also have a non-working water mill in the village (painted by both Turner and Constable because it is such a pretty building) that I cpsee through the bare branches in the winter when all around the water meadows are flooded. The mill itself floods regularly in the winter and the owners move out and move back in when the flood recedes. I admire their resilience. I was so happy to discover that there is a mill pond and non-working water mill not far from my husband’s care home. We have been there a few times now by wheelchair to enjoy the water and the ducks and I’ve made friends with the mill owners and had a tour of the mill and and tea in the garden. People are so friendly. My husband is not medically unwell (in fact he looks well albeit he weighs not much more than 50 kilos and is increasingly stooped due to muscle wastage) just severely neurologically unwell from Advanced Parkinson’s with Lewy Body Dementia so he needs help with all movement. Oh dear Thelma, it is very hard sometimes. The Mill on the Floss is one of my favourite novels and one long summer holiday I read it aloud to my children at bedtime when we would all lie on the bed on our tummies and sometimes my daughter would climb onto my lower back which was like having a lovely massage. I have never taken my children to a zoo, safari park or circus. One more snippet: I now have four Ouessant ( French) sheep eating my half acre natural perennial wildflower meadow. They arrived on Tuesday and so far they are more interested in the juicy brambles that surround the meadow but I’m sure they will move onto the dried flower stalks and understory of clover and trefoil soon. I have two ewes each with a boy lamb born in May. The boys have been castrated but are growing little horns. They are a joy to look after and make me very happy. The fleece of the lambs is gorgeous, deep soft dark chocolate brown (mothers are shorn of course) and I’m looking forward to spinning one of the lamb’s fleece next year. I’m slowly getting my making mojo back and have just finished a Merchant and Mills Camber dress using an organic Japanese chambray fabric the colour of raspberry sorbet. There used to be a good pub near Carew Water Mill. Once we were visiting Carew Castle (we used to have lots of holidays on the Stackpole estate in Pembs) and they were having an armoury day and my son was chosen to be the knight’s assistant and hand him the armour to put on. Tom was about 10 and was trying his best not to buckle under the weight! Sarah x
ReplyDeleteGood morning Sarah, your news is sad but has also an exuberance that you are getting your life back. Long may it continue. The Ouessant sheep's fleece looks good to spin. I actually like black to spin, because when you pattern the knitting it is quite strongly defined. I remember the time I said to my son 'that's it, I will not read 'Lord of the Rings' to you'. At 10 years old he was perfectly capable of reading but enjoyed me reading the books to him. Red sorbet the colour of your material sounds lovely, I am supposed to do some sewing today, taking up Andrew's trouser hems for the wedding. As he is about 6 foot 6inches I cannot think there are trousers out there long enough but there it is.
ReplyDeleteI know it is hard Sarah, this for all of us is the 'end stage' how we drift towards oblivion is something we cannot imagine. But you have I think a lovely garden and wild flower patch and now four sheep to keep you occupied - hope your fences are strong. I used to have a friend at Carew, when I was making miniatures for a hobby. She made tiny scenes in clocks, the rounded versions of clocks thrown out because they were old fashioned.
Do take care, worrying is not good there is plenty to enjoy in life. I do feel for you both and yet there is nothing one can do, except perhaps write. Collect thoughts for your family maybe.
Love Thelma xxx