Listed Building record MDR3522 - Victoria Mill, Buxton Road, Bakewell

Victoria Mill, Buxton Road, Bakewell, a 19th century building. 'An 18th to 19th century water powered corn mill. A three storeyed gritstone building with iron framed windows. The mill was originally powered by a 16ft diameter cast iron wheel that was 13½ ft wide, breast shot, with rim gearing. A leat fed the mill from the River Wye. It is possibly on the site of the Domesday mill.' (1) 'A small building is shown on the site in 1799.' (4) 'The mill is described as the 'new corn mill' in the Enclosure Award of 1810 and may have been rebuilt in 1800.' (5, 6) 'In 1847, the mill premises included a kiln house, stable, counting house, wheelhouse and open shed.' (7) A Sale Catalogue of 1920 gives details of room use and millstones, and lists the buidings in theyard as stables, wagon shed, store and fodder room, open shed and gighouse. (8) 'A mill is recorded in Domesday Book. The actual location of this mill is not known; however, since good mill sites, ie where there is adequate water supply and flow, were often used again and again, it is quite possible that the same site was still being used in the 19th century. The present mill building was described as 'new' in the 1810 Enclosure Award. It continued to grind corn and animal feed until after the end of the Second World War, although the actual date of closure has not been established. The large gritstone building had iron-framed windows and a lucam for hoisting sacks into upper floors of the mill. The breast shot iron waterwheel, dating from about 1850, was 16ft in diameter and 13ft 6ins wide and had an iron axle. There is no machinery remaining in the building and no records have been found regarding the number of pairs of stones or how they were driven. The wheel was removed from its close-fitting stone wheel pit in December 1971 with a view to restoration. Since that time, however, it has lain in the mill yard and at the time of writing is just a large pile of rust. The building is till complete and is used as a laboratory.' (9) 'Three storey 18th century gritstone corn mill with cast iron windows and disintegrated water wheel in situ on mill leet. The south end has been modernised and is in use as a picture gallery.' (10) From the National Heritage List for England: 'This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 21/08/2019 SK2168 831-1/4/72 BAKEWELL BUXTON ROAD (North East side) The Victoria Mill 07/01/70 GV II Formerly known as: The Victoria Mill, MILL STREET. Former corn mill. c1800. Deeply-coursed, dressed sandstone; rubble limestone to rear; Welsh slate roof. EXTERIOR: three storeys; eight window range facing Buxton Road; short two storey wing at north end. Plinth; large quoins. Projecting stone sills to 36-pane iron casements in dressed surrounds with deep lintels. Second floor lit only by small six-pane casements to bays 1, 3, 6 and 8; iron pintles for top-hung shutters. Two storey part on left: walling continuous from main range; six-pane casement to first floor. Rear: C20 casements; openings to second floor as front. Right return: altered ground floor has millstone built into wall beneath C20 casement and double door. Two 36-pane iron casements to each upper floor. INTERIOR: broad queen-post trusses with centre posts from collar to ridge. Described as a new mill in 1810 enclosure award. In use until c1945 then became a feed store. Renovated c1970 when infilled road side windows were glazed with iron casements taken from the rear. Listing NGR: SK2162268804.' (11)