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Baldock's Mill before
restoration
Restoration of the early 19th
century Baldock's Mill began in 1973, the year it was scheduled as a Grade
II listed building. Preliminary work was carried out by boys and girls
from Bourne Secondary School (now the Robert Manning Technology College)
under the guidance of two teachers, Mike Watkins and Alan Dawn.
Since those early days, there has been a
slow but progressive programme of improvement and although much work
remains to be done, the mill is now in full use as the town's Heritage
Centre under the auspices of the Civic Society which took over the
building in 1981.
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This
is the only colour photograph taken of the mill's interior prior
to restoration and it shows the old timbers, all from the 18th
century.
It
is not known where the wood was cut but as this particular mill
was originally built by the Earl of Exeter, then Lord of the Manor
of Bourne, who also owned Bourne Wood, it is safe to assume that
this was therefore the source of the raw materials. It is also
worth remembering that all of the timbers were cut and fitted by
hand, a remarkable achievement considering that they have survived
for more than two centuries.
Since
the Civic Society became custodians, there has been a continual
programme of restoration, but always hampered by a lack of funds
and so progress has been slow but the transformation since those
early days is now apparent. |
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Photographs: Courtesy Bourne Heritage
Centre
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