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Dr Peter Brabham (a Geology lecturer at Cardiff University and keen photographer) has taken some lovely photographs of Mills around the country and would like your help to put names and locations to some of them, please see his pictures on Flickr and leave a comment (and UKMill id number) if you can assist him.
Here are great opportunities if you want to live in France or South Africa.
MILL FOR SALE **** FRANCE ***** South Africa
UK Map showing the location of all mills listed on this site, click here to view
FOR SALE **** FRANCE ***** SOUTHERN BRITTANY
Contact Brian Morcom
themorcoms@wanadoo.fr or 0033(0)2097433337 Mill house, 3 storey mill and other connecting buildings standing on 3500 sq.m land .This former flour mill and mill managers house has worked for over 200 years.Today it has a working turbine with a design output of 17/14 kWh.
Situated on the river Arz, which rises near Vannes and enters the river Villaine below Redon.This category 1 river supports a good variety of fish including salmon ,sea trout ,lamprey, trout and an abundance of mammals.
The property consists of 4 buildings composing:
A 3 storey millers house(216 sq.m habitable floor area)(refurbished 1999)
Ground floor.
- Lounge (40 sq.m) with 17 kWh log burning stove.
- Kitchen (22 sq.m).
- Dining Room (25 sq.m.)(overlooking raised terrace and river)
- Laundry.
- Cloakroom.
First floor.
- 2 Bedrooms (23+26 sq.m). each with ensuite bathroom and
- dressing room.
Second floor.
- 1 Bedroom (20 sq.m)
- Bathroom.
- Office
- Store area.
3 Storey Mill (250 sq.m).
Dating to pre Napoleonic times the stone and slate covered building was working until 1978.The turbine was the power source and also produced their electricity requirements.Today,although restored to full working condition it requires connection to the national grid where an estimated income of 4000/8000 euros is available.Some equipment is in place including the mill stones, sack hoist,and grain elevators.
Other Buildings.
- Former Stables. 100 (sq.m) (2 storey).- having planning permission for 3 bed dwelling.
- Former workshop. (84 sq.m.) (2 storey)
General Information
- Original beams and sweet chestnut floors.
- All kitchen fittings and appliances included.
- Satellite TV.
- Broadband connection.
- Coast 30 minutes.
- Small town/train 7 minutes.
PRICE…….365,000 pounds.
Watermills in the Comminges area of South West France. |
In this picturesque and relatively unspoilt area of the south, many small rivers run through the rolling hills, under the backdrop of the chain of the Pyrenees, to join the great Garonne as it makes its way from Spain to the Atlantic.
In most valleys watermills were founded every 5 kilometers or so, and many still survive with their streams intact.
Commonly there is a small turbine or horizontal wheel, originally of wood, for turning the millstone, with smaller wheels beside for the dough mixer and sack hoist, and very often a brick built bakery oven beside, but also a lot of saw mills in these very wooded hills, and even stone and marble mills. Some remaining mills on the larger streams now produce electricity.
It is to an old mill and bakery like this that we moved 20 years ago form the UK in search of countryside peace and space at an affordable price.
The millstream needed re-dug, all the sluices needed replacing, and the 3 stories of milling and sifting machinery had all been smashed out leaving gaping holes in the building, and just one turbine from 1910 under water.
Now the building runs as a large guest house surrounded by gardens, the water is 'under control' and part of the natural beauty, bridges have been built, the old turbine is getting restored to return to its place, and we are members of the active local mill owners association.
And after many adventures I now work for the small local Estate Agency in Aurignac, and by chance we have at the moment 6 mills on our books for sale.
From a group of dilapidated buildings without a stream, to a splendid working mill on medieval foundations producing 20 Kw - each very individual, and each appealing to folk like ourselves who have loved living over the running water and working to harness it.
So we think these may be of interest to others in the UK seeking a more spacious and old fashioned environment, and who would appreciate this working heritage. |
Our Guest House :
www.moulin-vert.net
and the Agency :
www.french-property.com/aurignac
but without most of the mills online - please enquire !
Kris Misselbrook
Le Moulin de Samouillan
31420 Aurignac, Haute Garonne |
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