TV historian backs restoration of historic mill
Dan Cruickshank, one of Britain’s leading architectural and historic building experts and presenter of BBC’s ‘The Best Buildings of Britain’ and ‘What the Industrial Revolution did for us’, is fronting a campaign to restore the machinery in a historic watermill located on the outskirts of the Olympic park in Bromley-by-Bow, east London.
On Tuesday 23 June, Dan launched a new partnership to take forward this major restoration project. Dan said: “The House Mill is the largest remaining tidal mill in the world and is a hidden gem in a deprived area of east London. The building is hugely important both for its heritage value and its future potential to generate hydro-electricity. “I am delighted to support to the campaign to see it restored and look forward to working with the newly formed Three Mills Partnership to secure the future of this fantastic building.” The Three Mills in Bromley-by-Bow were crucial to the existence of Londoners during the medieval period when they were used to grind the wheat to supply the whole of the city with flour. In the 1500s, the mills were used to grind gunpowder before grinding corn for local distilleries from 1728 until the early 20th century. After bombing during the Blitz, the House Mill fell into disuse and disrepair before being rescued by The River Lea Tidal Mill in 1985. With a grant from English Heritage, The River Lea Tidal Mill restored the exterior of the building. Roger Hanbury, Chief Executive of The Waterways Trust and chairman of the Three Mills Partnership, said: “This is a truly remarkable building with a rich and fascinating history. Whilst the exterior of the House Mill has been restored, now we want to see its tidal mill wheels restored, so we can bringing tidal power back to the site and generate hydro-electricity, giving an 18th century building a lease of life for the 21st century. “This building and site, which is adjacent to the Olympic Park, have a tremendous amount to offer to the local community and visitors to the area. In addition to securing funds for the internal restoration of the mill, we want to promote a vision of the House Mill as a vibrant attraction, a heritage destination and a centre for business, learning and the community.” John Haggerty, Chair of the River Lea Tidal Mill Trust, said: “The Three Mills Partnership gives the Trust a renewed opportunity to achieve its long ambition of getting the wheels and machinery of the Mill restored to working condition. The Partnership will raise the profile of the House Mill during a time when there is a focus on 2012 and beyond. “The House Mill is a unique building. It represents the remains of east London’s own Industrial Revolution. The technology it used was powerful for its time and we now want to harness that power not just to demonstrate milling but generate our own electricity. We intend to produce hydro-electricity from all four wheels and from new micro hydro turbines, thus combining 18th and 21st century technologies. It will provide a distinctive and exceptional education resource. “A working House Mill together with historical interpretation, telling the story of Three Mills and its environs to the thousands of visitors expected for the Olympics is an opportunity not to be missed.” As a first step, the Partnership has submitted an application to English Heritage and other bodies to raise funds for an options appraisal which would help determine sustainable solution for the House Mill and site. The options appraisal will tell the Partnership what is practically and technically feasible, the Partnership will then launch a fundraising campaign to restore the mill’s wheels and interior adaptations. The Three Mills Partnership consists of representatives from: The River Lea Tidal Mill Trust, The Waterways Trust, English Heritage, Heritage of London Trust Operatios, British Waterways, London Development Agency, London Thames Gateway Development Corporation, London Borough of Newham, Lea Valley Regional Park Authority and Leaside Regeneration.
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