Images from an Historic Building Recording Survey at Bowman's Flour Mill, Eggborough, Selby, North Yorkshire 2021
Allen Archaeology, 2023. https://doi.org/10.5284/1102071. How to cite using this DOI
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 5022
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1102071
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
This digital archive contains images from a historic building recording as a condition of planning consent for a development at Bowman's Flour Mill in Eggborough, North Yorkshire. The work was undertaken on the 9th June 2021 by Allen Archaeology Limited who were commissioned by BWB Consulting.
At this stage the structures were too derelict and dangerous and therefore deemed unsafe to enter, as confirmed by the structural inspection report. Only an exterior survey was possible where safely accessible. The restrictions to access therefore limited the possibility for a more detailed and analytical record to be produced, especially relating to phasing and an assessment of any surviving features of the earliest mill within the later structures, or any early machinery and other ephemera. Previous studies of the site in form of a desk-based assessment and a heritage statement by Prospect Archaeology, proposed four broad phases of the mill's development. These have been evaluated and redefined into seven phases, despite the limitations of the site survey. Due to the derelict and dangerous state of the structures, no interior survey was possible.
The mill was founded by John Croysdale in the early to mid-19th century as a bone mill. It was soon after its establishment reconfigured into a corn mill, whilst the fertilizing production moved to an adjacent site. Due to a fire in 1857 the mill had to be rebuilt during its third phase and was transformed from a much smaller cruciform structure to a larger U-shaped conglomerate of mill structures with a rear yard. Despite the survival of the engine house, stables and a cake house, the only original element to make it into the new structures, was the single-cylinder steam engine, by McNaught of Leeds. During the third phase The Grange was built as the Croysdale's family home and a new stable was erected adjacent to it. Other structures included a smithy and an adjacent two-storey brick structure that may have functioned as the office or as accommodation. Minor amendments occurred to the mill during the fourth phase, including covering the rear yard. The majority of the rear ancillary structures were either rebuilt or modified during the fifth phase between 1907 and the early 1950s. In 1953 the mill changed its power supply by removing the original steam engine and replacing it with electric motors. The seventh phase is highlighted by the sale of the mill to Jas Bowman and Son who continued to modernise the mill and erecting the late 20th century structures, including four storage silos, wheat storage silos, intake building, loading bay and a penthouse to the rear of the mill.
Despite the limitations the survey encountered, it has allowed to preserve the standing structures by record prior to any further demolition or alterations.
