Gayle Mill, Hawes

[Nemesis]

This was one of the buildings featured on Restoration in 2004.

I'm delighted to say that it opened its doors for visitors this week and we visited today.

Wonderful - highly recommended - only a few hundred yards from the Wensleydale Cheese Centre too, and a short walk out of Hawes.

It's a timber mill - run by turbines. Started life as a cotton mill c 1780.

Fascinating technology, and a collection of historic woodworking machinery anyone with an interest in these things would love to see. There are plans to allow people to use it also once H and S concerns are sorted, possibly by running short courses.

The place is heated by a biomass boiler, and a new turbine sits alongside the historic ones and sells electricity to the National Grid. The plan is to keep it working to help pay for it, but a vast amount has been done by volunteers. Great to see it hasn't been made into a bijou residence!

Have taken lots of shots, when I get a chance I will post, but I do recommend anyone in the region to pay a visit.

http://www.gaylemill.org.uk/

http://www.friendsofgaylemill.org.uk/

 

[biffvernon]

Great place

 

[Nemesis]

There's a new sign though. And it's all working with water power still - driving the turbines.

The Gallery on the Friends' site has loadsa pics.

Courses 2008:


http://www.gaylemill.org.uk/visit_the_mill/events/

 

[Penners]

Thanks for the information, Nem. That one's definitely gone on my list.

Do post some more of your pictures, please. Specially the old woodworking machinery, if possible!

 

[Nemesis]

Will do Penners - I know many who read this site have a great interest. My pics are in a bit of a muddle at the moment, I have many shots to download on various flash card thingys. As it's snowing (well, it is Easter) maybe this weekend is the time to catch up.

Here's the link to Restoration pages - not not only is it II* it's a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/restoration/2004/north_gayle_mill_01.shtml

LBO details:

http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=323144&resourceID=5

http://pastscape.english-heritage.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=763725

http://pastscape.english-heritage.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=946812

Name: Gayle Mill
Parish: Hawes
District: Richmondshire
County: North Yorkshire
Postcode: DL8 3RT
LBS Number: 323144
Grade: II*
Date Listed: 25 March 1969
Date of Last Amendment: 27 February 2003
Date Delisted:
National Grid Reference: SD8711689382

Listing Text:

In the entry for:

GAYLE
HAWES Gayle Mill
SD 88 NE
20/121
25.3.69
GV II

The grade shall be amended to read Grade II* (star)

------------------------------------

HAWES GAYLE
SD 88 NE
20/121 Gayle Mill
25.3.69
GV II
Cotton mill, now saw mill. c1784. Rubble, stone slate roof. 3 storeys, 6
bays. Quoins. In bay 3, leaved board doors under deep timber lintel, with
small wheels set in floor for movement of timber onto saw-bench inside.
Original 16-pane fixed-light windows mostly replaced by 8-pane windows.
Stack at end left, former bellcote at end right. Rear elevation: blocked
tail-race opening from wheelchamber in corner near stream with round arch of
rubble voussoirs and hood-mould; regular pattern of windows. Right return:
blocked doorway formerly giving access to axle of waterwheel in centre of
ground floor. Left return: first-floor end entry with leaved board doors.
Interior: 2 workable water turbines by Williamson of Kendal. The mill was
switched to spinning wool for the local knitting industry in the late C18,
and was converted to a saw mill in the C19. The overshot waterwheel was
replaced by turbines in the late C19. From 1919 - 1948 the turbines
supplied electric light for the village. James Alderson, Under Wetherfell
(1980), pp 132-3.


Listing NGR: SD8711689382

Listed Buildings Online |

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Building Name: Gayle Mill Pentrough
Parish: Hawes
District: Richmondshire
County: North Yorkshire
Postcode: DL8 3RT
LBS Number: 323145
Grade: II
Date Listed: 09 July 1986
Date of Last Amendment: 27 February 2003
Date Delisted:
National Grid Reference: SD8712489344

Listing Text:

HAWES GAYLE
SD 88 NE
20/122 Gayle Mill Pentrough
GV II

Pentrough. c1784. Rubble and timber boarding. Linear structure
approximately 100 metres long leading from waterfall under Gayle Bridge (qv)
towards Gayle Mill (qv). First section, of approximately 70 metres, of
rubble, lower section of timber boarding, which terminates approximately 10
metres short of the mill, the water dropping into a sump before reaching the
turbines. The pentrough probably provided the water supply to the original
waterwheel in the mill, before being adapted to serve the turbines.


Listing NGR: SD8712489344