Visited yesterday with our exploring group from South Devon. Having visited Tonedale a few months ago, we fancied another one mill, having seen how they can hold a real amount of energy and memories in them, even if the machines are long gone. There was more original machinery left in Tonedale, this explore was more left up to the imagination, aside from the area where the river still runs through the site and the wheels were still intact.
The mill has been abandoned since 1994, and it shows. The upper floor to the main building is heavily fire damaged, and part of the roof missing. In one of the smaller buildings the roof has caved in. Surely no part of this can be salvaged. The usual 'turn into flats' idea was floated 2011 and if this is the condition it was in then, I have no idea how they would do it. There has been Mill activity on the site in some form since the 14th century, so the history in some parts would surely be worth investigating further before any renovations or demolitions take place; saying this as it's been over 20 years derelict I guess the nature of the small town means land isn't necessarily prime.
The whole place was very atmospheric. On arriving yesterday it was humid but overcast, the buildings eerie quiet, not even the usual pigeons, leading to the imagination running wild.
There are three main buildings to the site, and a few outbuildings. All heavily overgrown, but all easily accessible. Few onsite keep out signs but nothing major. The mill is on a residential road and one house inparticular looks over the site, but we didn't see anyone the whole few hours we were there.
Photos here; I'm only a beginner when it comes to this (joined the site 3 years ago but only been exploring this year) but hopefully they give some idea of the current state.
The mill has been abandoned since 1994, and it shows. The upper floor to the main building is heavily fire damaged, and part of the roof missing. In one of the smaller buildings the roof has caved in. Surely no part of this can be salvaged. The usual 'turn into flats' idea was floated 2011 and if this is the condition it was in then, I have no idea how they would do it. There has been Mill activity on the site in some form since the 14th century, so the history in some parts would surely be worth investigating further before any renovations or demolitions take place; saying this as it's been over 20 years derelict I guess the nature of the small town means land isn't necessarily prime.
The whole place was very atmospheric. On arriving yesterday it was humid but overcast, the buildings eerie quiet, not even the usual pigeons, leading to the imagination running wild.
There are three main buildings to the site, and a few outbuildings. All heavily overgrown, but all easily accessible. Few onsite keep out signs but nothing major. The mill is on a residential road and one house inparticular looks over the site, but we didn't see anyone the whole few hours we were there.
Photos here; I'm only a beginner when it comes to this (joined the site 3 years ago but only been exploring this year) but hopefully they give some idea of the current state.
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