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Report - - Lumford and Langwith Mills (Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, Jan, 2020) | Industrial Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Lumford and Langwith Mills (Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, Jan, 2020)

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urbanchemist

28DL Regular User
Regular User
This expedition started as a Sunday visit to Cauldwell’s Mill in Rowsley - a working flour mill with added water turbines - free and well worth a look.

Then since it was just down the road I decided to check out Lumford Mill as parts looked derelict on satellite view.

49381289002_1667e68409_b.jpg
Lumford Mill
[URL]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumford_Mill

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1012436

This was originally a cotton mill (1777) which burnt down and was rebuilt around 1890.
The main feature of interest, and the only aspect which is listed, is the hydraulic setup.
Its waterworks were some of the largest at that time, consisting of a dam, weirs, a large mill pond and long mill race to power water wheels.
The wheels were replaced by a water turbine, or maybe turbines, in the 1920s.

These days the old mill buildings, some of which are still in use, are part of Riverside Business park.

I should have done some research before bothering with this one.
Half of the derelict bits had been demolished leaving just the facade with a small office block at the front, empty and modernised.
The water came in along the top of the wall on the right, down through the turbine house in front of the chimney and out through the arches.
Yes the water really is that toxic shade of green.

49381288977_7ef72dbcb5_b.jpg


All gone behind the facade - mostly phone pics from now on.

49380632778_6a99d17c45_b.jpg


Immediately on the left of the view above is a large derelict-looking shed which is still in use for storing building materials.
Maybe these were from the demolition.

49381288887_7570301636_b.jpg



49381288812_7e53fe2ae8_b.jpg


Nothing much here so I went to see if the turbine was still around.
A picture of where the water came in through a sluice below, but looking down into the room beyond it was empty (forgot to take a picture).

49380632638_006e15be7b_b.jpg


Finally I headed under the arches where the water came out.
The left one on the first picture soon turns into to a tunnel full of deep, oily water which I didn’t fancy wading through.

49381288757_72c415aaf0_b.jpg


The one on the right eventually led to what looks like the outlet of a water turbine, venting into a deep pool.
This seems to be all that’s left.

49381095076_8baa55b2fc_b.jpg



Langwith Mill.

Since I’m not often on the wrong side of the peaks, I used the few remaining hours of daylight to head further east to this tourist spot.

First built as a cotton mill it was converted into a corn mill in 1886.
It was originally water-powered of course - the banks of the mill pond in front and waterworks behind are still there.
But there’s nothing left of the internal wheel and the wheel pit has been filled in.
All that remains inside are a few bits and pieces related to milling.

For reference here are the previous reports.
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threa...er-langwith-nottinghamshire-july-2017.109931/
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/langwith-mill-nether-langwith-nottinghamshire-jan-2016.108365/
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/langwith-mill-notts.94695/
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/mansfield-langwith-mill-may-2012.71242/
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/langwith-mill-nr-mansfield-april-2012.70959/

Little has changed except that there is now a mobile home parked outside and some ineffectual fencing has appeared.

The little building on the right in the external below was a kiln for drying corn.
I forgot to take a picture but it has an oven under curved arches at ground level.

49380632563_49aa477647_b.jpg


The slope from the millpond over the hill on the left down to the river out of shot on the right gives an idea of the head of water available.
The ruin on the left may have been for later steam power.

49380632833_e785f4c92b_b.jpg


Internal pictures go from the ground floor up.
Nothing really to see on the ground floor except a mechanism for adjusting the spacing between the grinding stones (tentering) on the floor above.
And what looks a child-size loo with a shelf in the way.

49381095001_0a1541213e_b.jpg



49381094956_fc939aeef9_b.jpg


Six stones and some associated shafting on the first floor.
Only one of these still has its top runner stone - this is the one with the tentering mechanism below.

49381094921_654df5d6f5_b.jpg



49381094896_1b2cd092a5_b.jpg



49380632303_743fe8bded_b.jpg


Some bins, chutes and the remains of an old winnowing machine on the second floor.
Looking at previous posts, this machine was in much better shape a few years ago.

49380632278_a9c3870be1_b.jpg



49381288407_be7f1122aa_b.jpg



49381288357_e82429429d_b.jpg


More sections of shafting on the third floor, one of which powered an auger used to dry freshly ground meal.

49381094611_625288f1f1_b.jpg



49381094581_b8b3bd4e8a_b.jpg



49381288252_570b601b48_b.jpg



49380631993_484df66fa1_b.jpg


One of the holes in the floor that are actually supposed to be there - a sack flap (or sack trap) used to haul up sacks of grain…

49381288137_55c2c128a9_b.jpg


…using the hoist in the attic.

49380631928_2fc95f12e0_b.jpg



49381094361_d453ef4a9c_b.jpg


Before anyone bleats about death-traps etc., yes, like many old wooden mills this is not a safe place.

Just use common sense and have a look at the underside of the floors before walking on them.
 
Last edited:

HughieD

28DL Regular User
Regular User
Great report and set of pictures. Good to see this again. Failed here a number of times! The new fencing is particulalry ineffective isn't it?
 

Calamity Jane

i see beauty in the unloved, places & things
Regular User
Really like these Mills. The stones, big cogs, chains and the history are all amazing to see. I dont think we have much of these in Kent. :thumb
 

urbanchemist

28DL Regular User
Regular User
Great report and set of pictures. Good to see this again. Failed here a number of times! The new fencing is particulalry ineffective isn't it?
No reason not to get into the Langwith one - looks like the entrance has always been there, just a bit cryptic.
 

Eddiek

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
This expedition started as a Sunday visit to Cauldwell’s Mill in Rowsley - a working flour mill with added water turbines - free and well worth a look.

Then since it was just down the road I decided to check out Lumford Mill as parts looked derelict on satellite view.

49381289002_1667e68409_b.jpg
Lumford Mill
[URL]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumford_Mill

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1012436

This was originally a cotton mill (1777) which burnt down and was rebuilt around 1890.
The main feature of interest, and the only aspect which is listed, is the hydraulic setup.
Its waterworks were some of the largest at that time, consisting of a dam, weirs, a large mill pond and long mill race to power water wheels.
The wheels were replaced by a water turbine, or maybe turbines, in the 1920s.

These days the old mill buildings, some of which are still in use, are part of Riverside Business park.

I should have done some research before bothering with this one.
Half of the derelict bits had been demolished leaving just the facade with a small office block at the front, empty and modernised.
The water came in along the top of the wall on the right, down through the turbine house in front of the chimney and out through the arches.
Yes the water really is that toxic shade of green.

49381288977_7ef72dbcb5_b.jpg


All gone behind the facade - mostly phone pics from now on.

49380632778_6a99d17c45_b.jpg


Immediately on the left of the view above is a large derelict-looking shed which is still in use for storing building materials.
Maybe these were from the demolition.

49381288887_7570301636_b.jpg



49381288812_7e53fe2ae8_b.jpg


Nothing much here so I went to see if the turbine was still around.
A picture of where the water came in through a sluice below, but looking down into the room beyond it was empty (forgot to take a picture).

49380632638_006e15be7b_b.jpg


Finally I headed under the arches where the water came out.
The left one on the first picture soon turns into to a tunnel full of deep, oily water which I didn’t fancy wading through.

49381288757_72c415aaf0_b.jpg


The one on the right eventually led to what looks like the outlet of a water turbine, venting into a deep pool.
This seems to be all that’s left.

49381095076_8baa55b2fc_b.jpg



Langwith Mill.

Since I’m not often on the wrong side of the peaks, I used the few remaining hours of daylight to head further east to this tourist spot.

First built as a cotton mill it was converted into a corn mill in 1886.
It was originally water-powered of course - the banks of the mill pond in front and waterworks behind are still there.
But there’s nothing left of the internal wheel and the wheel pit has been filled in.
All that remains inside are a few bits and pieces related to milling.

For reference here are the previous reports.
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threa...er-langwith-nottinghamshire-july-2017.109931/
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/langwith-mill-nether-langwith-nottinghamshire-jan-2016.108365/
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/langwith-mill-notts.94695/
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/mansfield-langwith-mill-may-2012.71242/
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/langwith-mill-nr-mansfield-april-2012.70959/

Little has changed except that there is now a mobile home parked outside and some ineffectual fencing has appeared.

The little building on the right in the external below was a kiln for drying corn.
I forgot to take a picture but it has an oven under curved arches at ground level.

49380632563_49aa477647_b.jpg


The slope from the millpond over the hill on the left down to the river out of shot on the right gives an idea of the head of water available.
The ruin on the left may have been for later steam power.

49380632833_e785f4c92b_b.jpg


Internal pictures go from the ground floor up.
Nothing really to see on the ground floor except a mechanism for adjusting the spacing between the grinding stones (tentering) on the floor above.
And what looks a child-size loo with a shelf in the way.

49381095001_0a1541213e_b.jpg



49381094956_fc939aeef9_b.jpg


Six stones and some associated shafting on the first floor.
Only one of these still has its top runner stone - this is the one with the tentering mechanism below.

49381094921_654df5d6f5_b.jpg



49381094896_1b2cd092a5_b.jpg



49380632303_743fe8bded_b.jpg


Some bins, chutes and the remains of an old winnowing machine on the second floor.
Looking at previous posts, this machine was in much better shape a few years ago.

49380632278_a9c3870be1_b.jpg



49381288407_be7f1122aa_b.jpg



49381288357_e82429429d_b.jpg


More sections of shafting on the third floor, one of which powered an auger used to dry freshly ground meal.

49381094611_625288f1f1_b.jpg



49381094581_b8b3bd4e8a_b.jpg



49381288252_570b601b48_b.jpg



49380631993_484df66fa1_b.jpg


One of the holes in the floor that are actually supposed to be there - a sack flap (or sack trap) used to haul up sacks of grain…

49381288137_55c2c128a9_b.jpg


…using the hoist in the attic.

49380631928_2fc95f12e0_b.jpg



49381094361_d453ef4a9c_b.jpg


Before anyone bleats about death-traps etc., yes, like many old wooden mills this is not a safe place.

Just use common sense and have a look at the underside of the floors before walking on them.
Not bad pictures at all using a phone. What phone was it ?
 

Calamity Jane

i see beauty in the unloved, places & things
Regular User
Nice addiction with the phone pics, they are really quite good. Lovely looking mill. Many wouldn't know the difference if you haven't of said. Only the die hard expert shooters on here know their stuff without looking in the exif folder, etc. :thumb
 

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