Old Cumbria Gazetteer - Heron Corn Mill, Beetham


	Heron Corn Mill, Beetham
	Heron Corn Mill and Museum of Papermaking
	Heron Mill
	Museum of Papermaking
site name:-	Bela, River
locality:-	Haverbrack
locality:-	Beetham
civil parish:-	Beetham (formerly Westmorland)
county:-	Cumbria
locality type:-	museum
locality type:-	mill
locality type:-	water mill
locality type:-	corn mill
locality type:-	waterfall (ex)
locality type:-	weir
locality type:-	workplace
coordinates:-	SD49637998
1Km square:-	SD4979
10Km square:-	SD47

	BPY86.jpg (taken 30.1.2009) BPY83.jpg Weir on The Bela, built on Bela Falls, and the back of Waterhouse Mills. (taken 30.1.2009)

evidence:-	old map:- OS County Series (Wmd 46 7) placename:- Beetham Mill
source data:-	Maps, County Series maps of Great Britain, scales 6 and 25 inches to 1 mile, published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, from about 1863 to 1948.

evidence:-	old map:- Jefferys 1770 (Wmd)
source data:-	Map, 4 sheets, The County of Westmoreland, scale 1 inch to 1 mile, surveyed 1768, and engraved and published by Thomas Jefferys, London, 1770. J5SD47NE.jpg "Mills" circle with rays; water mill item:- National Library of Scotland : EME.s.47 Image © National Library of Scotland

evidence:-	descriptive text:- West 1778 (11th edn 1821) placename:- Beetham Mill
source data:-	Guide book, A Guide to the Lakes, by Thomas West, published by William Pennington, Kendal, Cumbria once Westmorland, and in London, 1778 to 1821. goto source Page 26:- "... Also, see a bold water-fall of the river at Beetham-mill ..."

evidence:-	descriptive text:- Otley 1823 (5th edn 1834) placename:- Beetham Mill
source data:-	Guide book, A Concise Description of the English Lakes, the mountains in their vicinity, and the roads by which they may be visited, with remarks on the mineralogy and geology of the district, by Jonathan Otley, published by the author, Keswick, Cumberland now Cumbria, by J Richardson, London, and by Arthur Foster, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, 1823; published 1823-49, latterly as the Descriptive Guide to the English Lakes. goto source Page 93:- "... On the Milnthorp road, the waterfall at Beetham Mill attracts the notice of the traveller."

evidence:-	database:- Listed Buildings 2010 placename:- Heron Corn Mill
source data:-	courtesy of English Heritage "HERON CORN MILL AND ATTACHED MILL RACE / / MILL LANE / BEETHAM / SOUTH LAKELAND / CUMBRIA / II[star] / 76597 / SD4962179969"
source data:-	courtesy of English Heritage "Water-powered corn mill, with attached grain dryer and water supply mechanism and launder. Late C18 or earlier, remodelled and enlarged C19, restored as a museum in 1975. Rubble stone, slobbered, with a slate roof laid to diminishing courses." "PLAN: L-shaped complex with main mill range aligned parallel to the River Bela, and ancillary range at right angles to the north-west." "EXTERIOR: River frontage to south-east with dressed stone plinth and semi circular arch-headed double doorway to lower level. 3 multi-pane upper floor windows with flat-arched heads. Wide south-east gable with timber launder leading from sluice gates with rack and pinion mechanisms. Narrow extension to north-west incorporates corn drying kiln with roof louvre. Single bay north-east elevation with a C20 window frame to each floor and a board door." "INTERIOR: The restoration of the mill interior was completed in 1975, and contains a Lowder stone frame on the stone floor and complete associated machinery, driven by a 14ft overshot water wheel. Line shafting in the attic powers the sack hoist which raises grain to the highest part of the building, to be delivered by gravity onto the 4 pairs of millstones below. The roof structure is supported on trusses with curved knee braces to the principles." "HISTORY: The mill site is thought to have had medieval origins, rights to erect and run a corn mill having been granted to the Canons of Coningshead in 1220. The present mill operated until 1955. A water-powered corn mill on a mill site established in 1220 and operated until 1955, with a complete and working interior, including a rare survival of a Lowder frame."

	BPY89.jpg Weir on The Bela. (taken 30.1.2009) BPY85.jpg Sluice to the mill lade. (taken 30.1.2009) BPY87.jpg Mill lade going into the mill. (taken 30.1.2009) BQY98.jpg Sluice gate and mill lade supplying water from the mill dam to the mill wheel. (taken 3.7.2009) BPY88.jpg Mill stones. (taken 30.1.2009)

	BQY90.jpg Central arrangement of machinery, four sets of millstones. (taken 3.7.2009) BQY97.jpg The horse supporting the hopper, spout, damsel, etc above the millstone. (taken 3.7.2009) BQY91.jpg The spout or shoe feeding into the eye of the runner stone; the crook string adjusts the slope of the spout. (taken 3.7.2009) BQY92.jpg Hoppers and spouts. (taken 3.7.2009) BQY93.jpg The damsel, which jiggles the spout to feed corn into the eye. (taken 3.7.2009) BQY94.jpg Chute and sack. (taken 3.7.2009) BQY95.jpg Wood toothed pinion driving a millstone shaft. (taken 3.7.2009) BQY96.jpg Wedge used by a millstone dresser when working in the runner stone. (taken 3.7.2009) BQY99.jpg Water wheel. (taken 3.7.2009) BQZ01.jpg Pit wheel on the water wheel shaft, driving the wallower on the vertical main shaft. (taken 3.7.2009) BQZ02.jpg Bridge trees supporting, and adjusting, the millstone's spindle. (taken 3.7.2009) BQZ03.jpg Bridge trees supporting, and adjusting, the millstone's spindle. (taken 3.7.2009) BQZ04.jpg Grinding mill. (taken 3.7.2009) BQZ05.jpg Grinding mill:- "CORBETT &SON'S / [PAT]ENT R.A.S. PRIZ[E / GRIND]ING MILL / [ ]" "CORBETT'S 'PLYMOUTH' ROYAL FIRST PRIZE WINNER" (taken 3.7.2009) BQZ06.jpg Grinding mill:- "THE WORLD'S BEST GRINDING MILL" (taken 3.7.2009) BQZ07.jpg Lay shaft with pulley and drive belt for other machinery. (taken 3.7.2009)

notes:-	Recorded from the 13th century. Still operating in the 1920s.
	Somervell, John: 1930: Water Power Mills of South Westmorland

hearsay:-	Founded by the canons of Conishead Priory, 1220. Used till 1955.

notes:-	There is a plan to install hydroelectric scheme at the mill, using an archidean screw

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