Listed Building record MDO11911 - Folly Mill, Folly Mill Lane, Bridport

The former Folly Mill, was an 18th century corn mill, built on the site of a much older mill (Killings Mill). It may have also been used as a bolling mill and from 1918 it was used as an engineering works by Ackerman & Son. After 1940 the water wheel was attached to a dynamo and was used for charging batteries. The wheel was removed in 1963 and Ackermans vacated the site in the 1970s. The mill was demolished in 1996.

The former Folly Mill, was an 18th century corn mill, built on the site of a much older mill (Killings Mill). The mill started as a grist mill and was later adapted to other uses as well. The mill had connection with the textile trade and may have been used as a bolling mill (1).

The first recorded miller was David Hawker in 1851 and in about 1880 was taken over by his brother Stephen Hawker, then by Stephen's son Alfred Hawker, who briefly converted it to steam operation around 1890 and ran it as a grist mill and net-making machine works (2).

From 1918 it was used as an engineering works by Ackerman & Son, though they continued to grind cereals until at least 1923. After 1940 the water wheel was attached to a dynamo and was used for charging batteries (2). The iron breastshot water wheel was removed in 1963 (1). Ackermans vacated the site in the 1970s. The mill was demolished in 1996.

The 18th century mill was a two-storeyed brick and rubble building with a hipped slate roof. There was a 19th century extension on the southwest side and a probably 19th century brick and rubble outhouse on the east side of the lane. There was a red brick bridge to the northeast with a segmental arch with ashlar keystone.

National Record of the Historic Environment, 1305038 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<1> Bone, M R, 1985, 'The Bridport Flax and Hemp Industry' Bristol Industrial Archaeological Society Journal, 28 (Article in serial). SWX1452.

<2> Sims, R, 1998, The Mills of Bridport (Monograph). SDO10535.

<3> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BF084678 (Index). SDO14738.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 544116 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 18 2023 4:06PM