Rare Watermill Gets Listing Upgrade
Low Mill in Bilsdale, North Yorkshire has had its listed status upgraded.
A rare and remarkably complete watermill developed in the 18th century has been listed at Grade II* by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the advice of Historic England.
Low Mill, in Bilsdale, North Yorkshire had been listed at Grade II since 1990. Further research has now shown the mill is of more than special interest and deserves to be upgraded to II*. Only around 5.8% of all sites on the National Heritage List for England are listed at Grade II*.
94-year-old owner, George Harrison, is hoping the listing upgrade will help him attract new funding and assistance to get the watermill working again for himself and in memory of his wife, Hazel.
The watermill may have been originally established by Rievaulx Abbey and is recorded in documents in 1538 and 1641. However, it was largely rebuilt on its current site in 1785-1786.
Low Mill has been in and out of use throughout the years, with repairs happening in the 1970s and in the 2000s, when the waterwheel axle was replaced like for like, under Mr Harrison’s care. Currently, the mill is out of action and needs more work to operate again, something he hopes will happen soon.
George first got fully involved at Low Mill in 1995 following his retirement and moved there permanently in 1999. Alongside his wife Hazel, he began the restoration of the watermill.
“I love this mill very, very much and I’d like to stop here until the day I die,” he said.
“I want to get it back up and going. It would be nice to get it going especially in the memory of my wife, who like me, loved the mill very, very much.
“I’m nearly 95 and would like somebody to buy the mill and keep it going once I’ve got it going again.”
The watermill and its machinery are rare and remarkably complete, leading to Historic England’s recommendation that the mill deserves its new higher grading.
The building retains evidence of the pre-1785 arrangement in addition to a remarkably complete set of machinery, including much of that installed in 1785, illustrating the evolution of milling technology. The milling machinery is especially significant because it can still be operated.
This rare watermill thoroughly deserves its elevated listing. Not only does it have a remarkable history but is a fine example of how milling machinery technology has evolved since it had major work in 1785. George’s love and dedication to the watermill shines through and we hope he can achieve his ambition and get it operational again soon.
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