Some history from the historicengland listing and other sources.
Built in 1854 as a combined corn and woollen mill, by the late C19 it was used only for grinding corn, making it one of the largest in the Dales.
It was refitted with a roller plant in 1937 and the waterwheel was replaced by two turbines.
In 1958 flour production stopped and the mill became a cattle food depot.
In 1968 part of the mill was used as a museum for horse-drawn carriages which subsequently shut (don’t know when).
In 2006 the turbines were overhauled but the building itself has since become increasingly derelict, which bothers the local council.
A planning application was lodged in September this year to turn it into apartments.
The aim of this outing was mainly to have a look at the turbines - I wasn’t expecting to find much in the way of mill machinery after so many years of use for other things.
First a map (1977) showing the location of the mill next to the bridge across the River Ure.
A channel (leat) took water from near the upper Aysgarth falls, under a road and in through the back of the building, exiting through an arch down near the river.
View from across the river. The mill is behind - the buildings in front are still in use as tea and gift shops.
Rear view showing the leat - the water heads left at the end down into the basement.
Interior pictures are a mixture of camera and phone and are ordered from the top down.
The attic is in poor condition with expanding foam in holes and tarps to catch the rain.
Some of the rafters are quite far gone, and water has rotted areas of the floors below.
A couple of hoists.
The second and first floors are just empty….
….save for a few leftovers related to milling or the carriage museum.
Ground floor.
A grain dryer.
An electric drive for mill machinery with a big induction motor at the back behind the column.
Down to the water turbines, which look like giant snails - one of them seems to be called ‘olive’.
I don’t know why the scaffolding is still there - there doesn’t seem to be much going on.
An old governor for the turbine vanes (I think).
It looks like more modern control kit was installed when the turbines were overhauled.
Turbines as seen from the bottom of the wheel pit (where the water wheel once lived).
Water exit to the river.
Late afternoon view of the upper Aysgarth waterfalls.
Built in 1854 as a combined corn and woollen mill, by the late C19 it was used only for grinding corn, making it one of the largest in the Dales.
It was refitted with a roller plant in 1937 and the waterwheel was replaced by two turbines.
In 1958 flour production stopped and the mill became a cattle food depot.
In 1968 part of the mill was used as a museum for horse-drawn carriages which subsequently shut (don’t know when).
In 2006 the turbines were overhauled but the building itself has since become increasingly derelict, which bothers the local council.
A planning application was lodged in September this year to turn it into apartments.
The aim of this outing was mainly to have a look at the turbines - I wasn’t expecting to find much in the way of mill machinery after so many years of use for other things.
First a map (1977) showing the location of the mill next to the bridge across the River Ure.
A channel (leat) took water from near the upper Aysgarth falls, under a road and in through the back of the building, exiting through an arch down near the river.
View from across the river. The mill is behind - the buildings in front are still in use as tea and gift shops.
Rear view showing the leat - the water heads left at the end down into the basement.
Interior pictures are a mixture of camera and phone and are ordered from the top down.
The attic is in poor condition with expanding foam in holes and tarps to catch the rain.
Some of the rafters are quite far gone, and water has rotted areas of the floors below.
A couple of hoists.
The second and first floors are just empty….
….save for a few leftovers related to milling or the carriage museum.
Ground floor.
A grain dryer.
An electric drive for mill machinery with a big induction motor at the back behind the column.
Down to the water turbines, which look like giant snails - one of them seems to be called ‘olive’.
I don’t know why the scaffolding is still there - there doesn’t seem to be much going on.
An old governor for the turbine vanes (I think).
It looks like more modern control kit was installed when the turbines were overhauled.
Turbines as seen from the bottom of the wheel pit (where the water wheel once lived).
Water exit to the river.
Late afternoon view of the upper Aysgarth waterfalls.
