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Summary

Mill building probably dating from the 17th century.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II) 1214794: MILL BUILDING AT SOWTON MILL

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX88NW/51
• Old Listed Building Ref (II)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• WATERMILL (Built, XVII - 1601 AD to 1700 AD (Between))

Full description

HARRIS, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV22166.

Privately owned hydro electric generator installed at sowton mill, dunsford, in 1986 using water from a leat. Originally a grist mill + rights date from elizabeth 1 (harris).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV305839.

Sowton mill.

DOE 1949, Untitled Source (Report - Survey). SDV305840.

Vis=estimated -/-/1948 (doe) a small 18th century stone building. The wooden breast wheel is used to generate electricity (doe 1949).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV305843.

Osa=sx88nw27.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV305844.

Doe/hhr:st. Thomas rd/(1949)47.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV305845.

Doe/hhr:dunsford/(4/9/1986)24.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV305846.

Des=harris, w. B. /tda/127(dec 1995)286/hydro electricity in devon: past present and future.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV305847.

Des=bodman, m. /water powered sites in devon (1998)38,29/in smr.

Devon County Council, 1838-1848, Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848 (Cartographic). SDV349431.

Building marked on Tithe Map.

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

Sowton Mill (Corn) marked.

Ordnance Survey, 2015, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV357601.

English Heritage, 2015, National Heritage List for England (National Heritage List for England). SDV357602.

Mill building at Sowton Mill. Mill Building. Probably C17 origins, C20 alterations. Granite and freestone rubble, squared granite brought to course behind the water wheel, asbestos slate roof gabled at ends, right gable end, projecting granite stack with set-offs at the right end. The mill building, which has accommodation at the right end, has been altered internally in the late C20 and the water wheel is no longer in use, although the leat is still in use and powers a water turbine for electricity for domestic use. 3 storeys. The west elevation facing the leat is asymmetrical with granite quoins with a scatter of C20 windows to the right and a C20 flat-roofed dormer to the left. The entrance is on the left gable end with a doorway with chamfered jambs and a timber lintel. The iron wheel, in a poor state of repair is at the left end. In front of the wheel the leat is directed through 3 separate channels divided by dressed granite walls. Downstream from the existing wheel a second opening in the wall of the mill building indicates the former position of another wheel. Interior The gable end fireplace has a brick lintel. In spite of the late C20 fenestration the masonry of the mill building indicates an early date and the building forms a group with the mill house to the north west. A granite stone, part of the leat arrangement, has a datestone that may read 165- (last figure illegible). Sowton Mill was formerly known as 'Chaffe's Mill'. An indenture of 16 Oct 1388 granted Nicholas Sparke of Dunsford the right to make a weir "for the conveyinge of a watercourse to a mille to be builded by the said Nicholas". The grant was given by Richard Champernowne of Modbury. Records of the Committee of the Devonshire Association, 9th Report, Halliwell - Phillips Collection,(MS notes in possession of the owner).

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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