There's been several high-quality elderly power station-related findings recently, so here I present you with another juicy survivor. Yet again goes to show what is still out there, tucked away at a rural paper mill.
History
The clean water of the River Axe made it an ideal source of water for the manufacture of paper, and production began at the St Cuthberts site in 1736. Originally known as Lower Wookey Mill, its name was changed to Mendip Mill in 1862, and finally taking its current name in 1886. St Cuthberts now specialises in the manufacture of high-quality artists papers, still made using a Cylinder Mould Machine, one of the last working machines of its kind in the world, and dating back to 1907. The chimney was chimney was constructed in 1897, using 300,000 bricks. PM 1 machine was installed in 1954, and following improvements in 1991, specialised in the laminated paper for kitchen cabinets. Following high competition from European manufactures the St Cuthberts faced closure in 2010, but was saved by the decision to specialise wholly in the creation of artist’s papers.
The mill in 1923 (www.britainfromabove.org.uk).
A similar angle of the site taken a decade later (www.britainfromabove.org.uk). The large boiler house can be seen in the centre, behind the chimney.
On last aerial view from 1933. I think the contraption in the centre of the boiler house is a bucket elevator, to bring coal to the boilers. There was no evidence of coal hoppers or bunkers on the interior (www.britainfromabove.org.uk).
The Explore
Visited with @ikkdjct
I discovered this site while I was in the process of creating a map of the remaining decent British industrial stuff we still have to look forward to. When I first set eyes on the mill, I immediately knew there was a very strong chance of finding something special. The large, asbestos clad structure, close to the chimney especially caught my eye, bearing a strong resemblance to the boiler house of what would have been my local power station: Drinnick, built by English China Clays in the 1930s. There was also a chance of finding a turbine or two, most paper mills had their own electrical generating equipment, and the appearance of the buildings suggested what machinery there was inside may be very old indeed.
Although it was high up on my list, all the covid crap meant I had to give priority to more urgent sites, though had I known what was lurking inside, I'm sure I’d have found a way to fit in a visit earlier. @Olkka beat me to it last month, and although the turbines had been missing for quite some time, the photos he sent me revealed what seemed to be an old and nicely decayed building.
We arrived to find the site virtually deserted, and quickly climbed into the boiler house. The boiler house was certainly my favourite part of the mill. Olkka had really under-sold it, I really wasn’t expecting to come across two brick-built boilers, they are very rare survivals, and something I’ve never encountered before. The boiler house was constructed around 1930, and containing a pair of boilers, one of which survives, the other later replaced by a more common, but still nice Robey oil-fired boiler. The building was later extended to house a third brick-built boiler, probably pre-1950. Like the previous boilers, it was originally coal-fired, but was later converted to burn oil. While asbestos removal has taken place on the oldest boiler, this one is still riddled with asbestos lagging, which has been crumbling away for decades. I was a little nervous climbing around, but it’s a reasonably open space and seemed rather damp at the time.
We then ventured to the power station, which I think was built to contain a steam engine, and later extended to house some steam turbines, probably when the boiler house was constructed. Although it was tragic to see the holes once occupied by the turbines, at least I was prepared for disappointment. If you look past what it once could have been, it becomes quite a nice area, with lots of decay and nice details, like the control panels and gantry crane mechanisms.
We also had a little peek into the live sections of the mill. The place is a real jumble of old stone walls, disused machinery, and areas which are clearly still in operation. There wasn’t a lot of activity, but a guy working on a machine put us off going far, I’m sure I’ll return again soon to poke around a little more.
External of the mill from the south west. The boiler house the large building in the centre left, the corrugated bay on the left end of the boiler house is the later extension.
The ground floor of the boiler house.
The Robey oil-fired boiler, with the circa 1930 brick-built boiler behind.
Looking towards the old boiler from the top of the Robey one.
The two steam drums.
Detail of one of the steam drums, showing Hopkinsons makers plates.
John Thompson Water Tube Boilers Ltd inspection door. There was also one made by International Combustion Ltd.
Looking inside the boiler, clearly showing the water tubes.
Epic signage!
The other lovely boiler, the oil burners are above the walkway in the centre.
Chain grate stokers and fan.
Round the back of the boiler
Water tube walkway. Some of the railings posts are unusually decorative.
Detail of the ends of the water tubes.
The steam drum.
On top of the boiler. The pipes are covered in a nice thick layer of asbestos insulation, asbestos covered pipes always have the finest curves!
Lovely boiler control panel.
More great gauges.
History
The clean water of the River Axe made it an ideal source of water for the manufacture of paper, and production began at the St Cuthberts site in 1736. Originally known as Lower Wookey Mill, its name was changed to Mendip Mill in 1862, and finally taking its current name in 1886. St Cuthberts now specialises in the manufacture of high-quality artists papers, still made using a Cylinder Mould Machine, one of the last working machines of its kind in the world, and dating back to 1907. The chimney was chimney was constructed in 1897, using 300,000 bricks. PM 1 machine was installed in 1954, and following improvements in 1991, specialised in the laminated paper for kitchen cabinets. Following high competition from European manufactures the St Cuthberts faced closure in 2010, but was saved by the decision to specialise wholly in the creation of artist’s papers.
The mill in 1923 (www.britainfromabove.org.uk).
A similar angle of the site taken a decade later (www.britainfromabove.org.uk). The large boiler house can be seen in the centre, behind the chimney.
On last aerial view from 1933. I think the contraption in the centre of the boiler house is a bucket elevator, to bring coal to the boilers. There was no evidence of coal hoppers or bunkers on the interior (www.britainfromabove.org.uk).
The Explore
Visited with @ikkdjct
I discovered this site while I was in the process of creating a map of the remaining decent British industrial stuff we still have to look forward to. When I first set eyes on the mill, I immediately knew there was a very strong chance of finding something special. The large, asbestos clad structure, close to the chimney especially caught my eye, bearing a strong resemblance to the boiler house of what would have been my local power station: Drinnick, built by English China Clays in the 1930s. There was also a chance of finding a turbine or two, most paper mills had their own electrical generating equipment, and the appearance of the buildings suggested what machinery there was inside may be very old indeed.
Although it was high up on my list, all the covid crap meant I had to give priority to more urgent sites, though had I known what was lurking inside, I'm sure I’d have found a way to fit in a visit earlier. @Olkka beat me to it last month, and although the turbines had been missing for quite some time, the photos he sent me revealed what seemed to be an old and nicely decayed building.
We arrived to find the site virtually deserted, and quickly climbed into the boiler house. The boiler house was certainly my favourite part of the mill. Olkka had really under-sold it, I really wasn’t expecting to come across two brick-built boilers, they are very rare survivals, and something I’ve never encountered before. The boiler house was constructed around 1930, and containing a pair of boilers, one of which survives, the other later replaced by a more common, but still nice Robey oil-fired boiler. The building was later extended to house a third brick-built boiler, probably pre-1950. Like the previous boilers, it was originally coal-fired, but was later converted to burn oil. While asbestos removal has taken place on the oldest boiler, this one is still riddled with asbestos lagging, which has been crumbling away for decades. I was a little nervous climbing around, but it’s a reasonably open space and seemed rather damp at the time.
We then ventured to the power station, which I think was built to contain a steam engine, and later extended to house some steam turbines, probably when the boiler house was constructed. Although it was tragic to see the holes once occupied by the turbines, at least I was prepared for disappointment. If you look past what it once could have been, it becomes quite a nice area, with lots of decay and nice details, like the control panels and gantry crane mechanisms.
We also had a little peek into the live sections of the mill. The place is a real jumble of old stone walls, disused machinery, and areas which are clearly still in operation. There wasn’t a lot of activity, but a guy working on a machine put us off going far, I’m sure I’ll return again soon to poke around a little more.
External of the mill from the south west. The boiler house the large building in the centre left, the corrugated bay on the left end of the boiler house is the later extension.
The ground floor of the boiler house.
The Robey oil-fired boiler, with the circa 1930 brick-built boiler behind.
Looking towards the old boiler from the top of the Robey one.
The two steam drums.
Detail of one of the steam drums, showing Hopkinsons makers plates.
John Thompson Water Tube Boilers Ltd inspection door. There was also one made by International Combustion Ltd.
Looking inside the boiler, clearly showing the water tubes.
Epic signage!
The other lovely boiler, the oil burners are above the walkway in the centre.
Chain grate stokers and fan.
Round the back of the boiler
Water tube walkway. Some of the railings posts are unusually decorative.
Detail of the ends of the water tubes.
The steam drum.
On top of the boiler. The pipes are covered in a nice thick layer of asbestos insulation, asbestos covered pipes always have the finest curves!
Lovely boiler control panel.
More great gauges.
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