SDO14778 - Bindon Mill and Mill House, Wool, Dorset. Historic Buildings Report. Analysis and Assessment of the Buildings and Mill Machinery

‘Bindon Mill stands on an ancient monastic site, although the earliest in-situ part of the extant building probably dates from the 17th century and is of re-used material, almost certainly sourced from the abbey. The building was reconstructed on a much larger scale in the late 18th century, enlarged further in the early 19th century, and finally remodelled and largely rebuilt in 1893 as a turbine-driven roller mill with ancillary millstones for animal feed. It closed in 1955, since when it has fallen into disrepair, devoid of most of its working parts. For at least the last 80 years of its useful life the mill was operated alongside a farm. This dual economy is evident from the outbuildings, most of which date from the second half of the 19th century. The mill house was probably built circa 1700 and incorporates much re-used abbey material, this being particularly noticeable at its east end. The house was extended in the early 19th century, and again, perhaps fifty years later. The outbuildings mostly date from the second half of the 9th century, although one incorporates a small structure of probable early-19th-century date, located just south east of the mill’s east range. A late-19th-century cattle shed was also added to the east of the mill complex. Most of the buildings in the group are now in poor condition. The mill is a good example of the successive improvements that have been carried out to an ancient water-powered site in order to maintain its economic viability. The apparent existence of 17th century fabric, re-using medieval monastic material, is of great interest. As regards the remainder of the extended mill building, it is not exceptional, either architecturally or mechanically. Of the working parts, nothing appears to have survived the remodelling of 1893, and therefore these, too, are of limited significance. Bindon Mill and Mill House is, however, an important and historic element of the landscape, particularly with regard to its medieval origins, its relationship with the rest of the abbey complex, and its wide variety of building materials.’