Ashmeads Mill, the start of our journey

Ashmeads Mill, the start of our journey

We start our journey at the large complex that was Ashmeads Mill as is shown here in c. 1885.

The Mill is in the centre, with the canal across from the left-foreground. The canal is empty and in poor condition as this was just prior to the attempted restoration by a trust in the 1890s.

Coal was brought up to this mill and would have been unloaded directly across the towpath and the small River Frome. The centre part of the mill was converted to a house in 1903 and the rest of the building was demolished and the stone sold for building elsewhere.

Little is known about the Mill. Charles Ismell, clothier occupied the mill in 1820. Otherwise there are no records until 1870, when it was a Flock Mill, occupied by Nathaniel Teakle. By 1879 it was a Silk Mill occupied by John Knight. Many local children used to play truant to work at the mill when times were hard. The house on the site was occupied by Dorcas and George. Eventually the house it burned down, with the loss of Dorcas.