According to Cadw, this place has a water turbine which is “in situ but inaccessible”, so I went have a look at the end of a long, wet day looking at other water-powered things.
History, from Cadw: “On the site of an iron forge which was established c1720 and worked until 1842. By 1850 there was a paper mill on the site producing brightly-coloured shop papers.
In 1888 the mill was acquired by Beckwith & Co and was re-named the Usk Paper Works, producing paper known as 'rope browns'.
Turbines replaced the old waterwheels to drive the papermaking machinery. In 1900 steam power is also said to have been used. Further additions to the buildings were made in 1904 (date on building).
The mill is said to have closed c1940 and subsequently to have become a small chemical works, when the building was mostly re-roofed. It is now an agricultural vehicle repair shop.”
Pictures are a mixture of phone and camera.
Map showing how the water travelled through the mill from a pond and down to the river.
The outside.
Most of the sheds are empty with a scattering of tyres and garage-type junk - not much here so a quick tour.
Now for the interesting bit - two water turbines, both by Gilkes, dating from the late 1800s.
Two inlet pipes coming in the rear - the lower one goes down to a large turbine, the top pipe carries straight on at roof level then descends to a smaller one behind.
These are ‘Thompson Double Vortex’ type machines with manual controls for the guide vanes.
One of the outlet tubes has been disconnected and the central bit that spins (runner) for the big one has gone.
There are footings for some machine, possibly a generator, where the drive shaft emerged through the wall behind.
The smaller one beyond still has its brass runner - I’m always surprised how lightly built these are.
Culvert under the road where the water, and I, exited.
History, from Cadw: “On the site of an iron forge which was established c1720 and worked until 1842. By 1850 there was a paper mill on the site producing brightly-coloured shop papers.
In 1888 the mill was acquired by Beckwith & Co and was re-named the Usk Paper Works, producing paper known as 'rope browns'.
Turbines replaced the old waterwheels to drive the papermaking machinery. In 1900 steam power is also said to have been used. Further additions to the buildings were made in 1904 (date on building).
The mill is said to have closed c1940 and subsequently to have become a small chemical works, when the building was mostly re-roofed. It is now an agricultural vehicle repair shop.”
Pictures are a mixture of phone and camera.
Map showing how the water travelled through the mill from a pond and down to the river.
The outside.
Most of the sheds are empty with a scattering of tyres and garage-type junk - not much here so a quick tour.
Now for the interesting bit - two water turbines, both by Gilkes, dating from the late 1800s.
Two inlet pipes coming in the rear - the lower one goes down to a large turbine, the top pipe carries straight on at roof level then descends to a smaller one behind.
These are ‘Thompson Double Vortex’ type machines with manual controls for the guide vanes.
One of the outlet tubes has been disconnected and the central bit that spins (runner) for the big one has gone.
There are footings for some machine, possibly a generator, where the drive shaft emerged through the wall behind.
The smaller one beyond still has its brass runner - I’m always surprised how lightly built these are.
Culvert under the road where the water, and I, exited.
