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Summary

A particularly interesting feature of the farmstead is the survival of an 18ft diameter cast iron overshot waterwheel which formerly drove machinery in an adjacent barn. It was powered by water from a pond on the west side of the house which is now largely silted up. Some machinery, now displaced, also survives including a millstone used as a patio table.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS54SE/86

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• WATERMILL (XVIII to XIX - 1751 AD (Between) to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV66635.

A particularly interesting feature of the farmstead is the survival of an 18ft diameter waterwheel which formerly drove machinery in an adjacent barn. It is still largely intact within its pit and various other pieces of machinery are lying around the same area. It was powered by water from a pond on the west side of the house which is now largely silted up.

North Devon Archaeological Society, 1989, North Devon Watermills, 42 (Article in Serial). SDV74913.

Holwell Farm Mill, near East Down. The overshot waterwheel is constructed of cast iron with wooden buckets, most of which are gone. It is 19 feet in diameter by 4 feet wide. The millstones and most of the machinery have gone. There is still a flywheel inside the building and two small cog wheels out in the field away from the buildings. The mill is constructed of stone with slate roof and in good condition.

University of the Third Age, 1995, Watermills in North Devon 1994, 58 (Monograph). SDV74915.

The equipment is in very poor condition as is the mill house. What was the 19 ft. diam. cast iron overshot wheel is in bits and pieces and in poor condition. There is no sign of any wooden water buckets. One millstone is being used as a patio table. The other millstone is in an adjoining field. The shafting and gears are lying in the leat. The flywheel is being used as a fish pond. The only piece of the mill attached to the mill house is a flat belt and pulley wheel. The stone mill house will be used as a theatre space. The original pair of large carrier doors is still in position. The leat is blocked by rubbish and weeds and there is no water movement. Last used as a mill in 1939 to grind oats and chaff. There has been a building on the site since 1244. The present building dates from early C19.

Bodman, M., 1998, Water-Powered Sites in Devon, 33-35 (Report - non-specific). SDV305931.

Bodman, M., 2003, Watermills and Other Water-Powered Sites in Devon, 249 (Report - Interim). SDV325576.

The pond was described as silted up in 1997 and the waterwheel was in an overgrown pit on the south side of the house.

Watts, M., 2020, Waterwheel and machinery at Holwell Farm, East Down (Ground Photograph). SDV366636.

Site visit 3rd June 2000. Photos of the remains of the waterwheel, associated gearing and a millstone. The wheel was rather overgrown at the time of the site visit.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV305931	Report - non-specific: Bodman, M.. 1998. Water-Powered Sites in Devon. A4 Spiral Bound. 33-35.
SDV325576	Report - Interim: Bodman, M.. 2003. Watermills and Other Water-Powered Sites in Devon. A4 Spiral Bound. 249.
SDV366636	Ground Photograph: Watts, M.. 2020. Waterwheel and machinery at Holwell Farm, East Down. Digital.
	Linked images:3
SDV66635	Migrated Record:
SDV74913	Article in Serial: North Devon Archaeological Society. 1989. North Devon Watermills. North Devon Archaeological Society Newsletter. 42.
SDV74915	Monograph: University of the Third Age. 1995. Watermills in North Devon 1994. Watermills in North Devon 1994. A5 Paperback. 58.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV60 - Watermills in North Devon 1994

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