From 1868 O/S Plan X.7 - SC 367822
High in the East Baldwin valley - the road is the B21 - the Baldwin river flowing N-S forms the boundary between Braddan and Onchan (the dashed line on plan). The mill is fed from a weir somewhat to the north feeding a breast-fed wheel.. The Mill is sometimes referred to as the "Ohio Woollen Mill" - the Ohio mine is on the other bank of the river.
Larch Garrad dates the origin of the miil to the 1840s initially to house handlooms, with the water wheel added in 1861 - founded by Philip Kelly(d. 1866), he was succeeded by son John, who had served an apprenticeship at Southwards Sulby mill, hence the mill became known as John Kelly's - John increased the size of the mill with drive shafts running the length of the building on both floors. A half-ton 'balance' wheel helped regulate the speed of the machines.
The mill was reported as ceasing production in 1917 after which the wheel was removed. Though described as a carding mill in 1868 it performed all tasks needed to transform raw wool into woven material.
? c.1910 when the axle to the painted wheel was last replaced.
The roof of the front part of the building was thrown off during a gale
end of Sept 1950
some some years later
MM PG 16021-16013
undated photograph (?1900's)
An accompanying note describes the machinery as the Spinning Machine - the men are identified as Allan David Kelly(b.1880)and his father John Kelly(b.1833) - John had installed a shaft extending from inside of the mill to a sluice to control the water flow to the wheel, as a higher flow was necessary to start this spinning machine, which flow could then be reduced once the working speed was reached.
Main shaft from wheel with gearing to drive machinery
