Sue and I were given a tour of this amazing site by Hannah Kemp, Visitor Assistant, and Nina Baptiste, Keeper, whose enthusiasm, passion and knowledge was wonderful.
Thwaite Mills is a fully-restored working watermill which is nestled on an island location between the River Aire and the Aire & Calder Navigation and is one of the last remaining examples of a water-powered mill in Britain. Between 1823-25 the Aire and Calder Navigation company acquired the mill and redeveloped the site. Two new large waterwheels were built, and the site comprised the mill building, the manager's house, stables, workshop, warehouse and workers' cottages. The cottages were demolished in 1968, but the other buildings remain intact today.
The mill was used for a range of purposes. The firm of W and E Joy used it to crush seeds for lubricating and lighting oil, imported woods were crushed for the dyeing industry, and the Horn family, who took over the mill in 1872, used it to crush flint and china stone for the pottery industry and to grind chalk to make "whiting" for industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to whitewash, then barytes for the paint industry, and until 1975 for the production of putty. In January 1975 the weir burst and the waterwheels stopped turning.
The Thwaite Mills Society was formed by volunteers in 1976 to preserve and restore this important site, and received financial support from the then West Yorkshire County Council. The river weir was rebuilt, and the museum opened in 1990.
As well as the functioning waterwheels, the mill contains a collection of machinery used at various times, a steam crane, wildlife areas, orchards, arable land and pasture. This is yet another jewel of the Leeds Museums and Galleries Service with a brilliant team who bring it alive with their enthusiasm and commitment.
Thwaite Mills is a fully-restored working watermill which is nestled on an island location between the River Aire and the Aire & Calder Navigation and is one of the last remaining examples of a water-powered mill in Britain. Between 1823-25 the Aire and Calder Navigation company acquired the mill and redeveloped the site. Two new large waterwheels were built, and the site comprised the mill building, the manager's house, stables, workshop, warehouse and workers' cottages. The cottages were demolished in 1968, but the other buildings remain intact today.
The mill was used for a range of purposes. The firm of W and E Joy used it to crush seeds for lubricating and lighting oil, imported woods were crushed for the dyeing industry, and the Horn family, who took over the mill in 1872, used it to crush flint and china stone for the pottery industry and to grind chalk to make "whiting" for industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to whitewash, then barytes for the paint industry, and until 1975 for the production of putty. In January 1975 the weir burst and the waterwheels stopped turning.
The Thwaite Mills Society was formed by volunteers in 1976 to preserve and restore this important site, and received financial support from the then West Yorkshire County Council. The river weir was rebuilt, and the museum opened in 1990.
As well as the functioning waterwheels, the mill contains a collection of machinery used at various times, a steam crane, wildlife areas, orchards, arable land and pasture. This is yet another jewel of the Leeds Museums and Galleries Service with a brilliant team who bring it alive with their enthusiasm and commitment.
Chris
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