from O/S 1:500 plan XIII/8.22
The slipway opposite Guttery Gable became Howard St at the construction of Loch Prom
These are mills whose primary power derives from a steam engine - such mills were no longer dependent on what today would be classed as renewable sources of water and wind, which though being 'free' are by their nature very variable and thus could not be relied on to be always available. Steam engines require a supply of coal, or wood, both of which could not be supplied from on Island sources but need be imported at significant cost - some water power mills from the middle of the 19th Century might possess an auxiliary steam engines that could augment a reduced water supply in a dry season.
The first mention of a Steam Mill is that established by Nicholas Boscow in Douglas in 1835:
Mona's Herald, Saturday, 13th June 1835
Among the improvements now going forward in this prospering town, may be fairly reckoned Mr. Boscow's steam flour mill in Lord Street, which though a private speculation is yet deserving of public notice, as being the first of the kind that has been constructed in the Island. The grinding of corn by means of steam, is one of the most useful purposes to which that powerful agent has hitherto been applied; and in time of severe and continued drought, occasioning a scarcity of water, must be a matter of general interest. To those who have never seen the curious machinery by which the millstones are impelled, and the grain converted into flour, an inspection of the complicated workmanship would well repay a visit to the premises.
Mona's Herald, Tuesday, 20th September 1836
In justice to the enterprising spirit, too, of Mr. Boscow we must not omit mention of his novel enterprise in steam, by the erection of his compact and elegant Corn Mill, worked by this, now almost universal power.
The Mill, together with warehouse, kiln, bakehouse and two shops were at the junction of Church Street and Lord Street, just south of today's Douglas Town Hall in John Street, which area was swept away by the construction of Victoria Street and later slum clearances from 1870 onwards. Boscow was a corn factor originally in Ramsey but had moved to Douglas in the early 1830s and would appear to have defrauded the IoM Building Society (a consortium of property investors in the rapidly expanding Douglas) from around 1840 before joining the Mormon emigration in 1841 leaving behind many debts which took some time to sort out.
Manx Liberal, Saturday, 2nd April 1842
...And the Whole of those desirable PREMISES, lately in the Occupation of Mr. NICHOLAS BOSCOW ; consisting of two good SHOPS, a very commodious WAREHOUSE, and that excellent STEAM MILL adjoining, together with a BAKEHOUSE and COTTAGE, — the Whole combining every Facility for carrying on an extensive Grinding and Baking Establishment,or the two Businesses of Miller and Baker separately. Also, a COTTAGE and FORGE, at the Rear of the above Mill. The above PROPERTY for SALE, by Private Treaty.
For further Information, apply to ROBERT PICKTHALL, Accountant, Queen-street. Douglas, March 25, 1842.
It would appear that there were no purchasers and the property was put up for public auction in July 1842, by 1847 it was in the hands of James Holmes, banker and property speculator
Mona's Herald, Wednesday, 24th February 1847;
The tall chimney attached to Mr Boscow's steam mill, in this town, is now being taken down ; and report says the proprietor, James Holmes. Esq., is about erecting several labourers' houses and opening a thoroughfare from Lord-street to North John street, on the premises known as Forbes's concerns.
There is no account of the disposal of the mill equipment — the next mention of a Steam Mill in Douglas is in 1861 which gives the location as the two shops at the lower end of Strand Street on the seaward side. These shops would appear to have been purchased in 1852
from O/S 1:500 plan XIII/8.22
The slipway opposite Guttery Gable became Howard St at the construction of Loch
Prom
Registered Deed May 1852 #54
[Douglas]dated 15 May 1852;Revd Thomas Caine(Braddan) + wife Jane sell for £380 to James Cowin + George Goldsmith(Braddan) two dwelling houses + wash house + yard in Strand St (Douglas) now in occupation of sd Cowin + Goldsmith and Mrs Ann Spencer bounded on north by Thomas Clague, on west by Strand St, on south by John Radcliffe and on east by sea shore including any right to an unenclosed intack (No 71) at the rear [on the sand]Witt John Holmes, John Goldsmith (both of Ballaughton mills)
James Cowin & George Goldsmith as a partnership were tenants of Ballaughton Mill certainly from 1851 and possibly before, until in 1856 problems with the water supply caused by changes in the flow of water occasioned by changes at Tromode Mill further up the river. These changes provoked a major court case re water rights which starting in June 1856 was finally decided by the keys in June 1859 - meanwhile the partnership was dissolved
Manx Sun, Saturday, 16th May 1857
NOTICE. THE PARTNERSHIP hitherto carried on between JAMES COWIN and GEORGE GOLDSMITH, as MILLERS and FLOUR DEALERS, at BALLAUGHTON MILLS, in the Parish of Braddan, has this day been dissolved by mutual consent. All Debts therefore due to the said Firm are requested to be paid to the said JAMES COWIN, at his Stores, formerly known as " Boscow's Warehouse," or to GEORGE GOLDSMITH , at Ballaughton Mills ; and all Claims upon the Concern are requested to be sent in for payment to the said JAMES COWIN or to GEORGE GOLDSMITH . JAMES COWIN. GEORGE GOLDSMITH. Signed in the presence of —JOHN HOLMES , WILLIAM KELLY Douglas, May 15, 1857.
from the above notice it appears that James Cowin had an interest in Boscow's warehouse, possibly he also had an interest in the machinery and possibly this allowed the erstwhile partnership to set up a Steam Mill, possibly around 1852 as there is a deed indicating the partners bought property in Douglas. It would appear that James Cowin continued at the Strand Street address
Isle of Man Weekly Advertising Circular, Thursday, 7th February 1861
STEAM MILL, SHOPS, AND PREMISES ,
TO BE SOLD by AUCTION ,by Mr. W.H. SPURR on the Premises, on FRIDAY , the 8th of February next, at Twelve o'clock Noon, — Those extensive CONCERNS in STRAND Street . Douglas, belonging to the late firm of Cowin, & Goldsmith millers. The Premises consists of a shop and Warehouse, now occupied by George Goldsmith as a Corn Store and a Shop and Dwelling House, adjoining thereto, and both fronting the Street, and in the rear of these a large Warehouse, Steam Mill, and Yard. The entrance to the last-mentioned premises is by a wide passage between the front premises. The whole of the properly is to be Sold in three lots. A plan of the premises with the lots laid out can be inspected at the office of Messrs. Harris and Adams, or of Mr. Sherwood. Douglas, Feb. 2 1861.
Manx Sun, Saturday, 27th September 1862;
STEAM ENGINE FOR SALE .
ON SALE, one Fourteen-horse power, high pressure Horizontal STEAM-ENGINE and BOILER in good condition, it being about to be re-placed by another one of greater power, as the mill is to be improved and extended. For further particulars apply to Mr. JAMES COWIN, Steam Mills, Douglas; or, to Messrs. WINSTANLEY and KELLY. Engineers. Windsor, Liverpool. September 26. 1862.
There would appear to be no interest as five months later:
Manx Sun, Saturday, 14th February 1863;
Engine and Boiler for Sale.
THE MACHINERY for the STEAM MILL, Strand Street. Douglas, being now nearly complete, the Engine and Boiler at present in the Mill will be DISPOSED OF together or separately. No reasonable offer will be refused. Apply to Mr. COWIN at the Mill, or to WINSTANLEY and KELLY, Engineers, Liverpool. Feb. 14.
Three weeks later, presumeably with the old boiler disposed of, a new boiler was installed with some minor excitement
Manx Sun, Saturday, 7th March 1863;
BLOCKADE OF DUKE- STREET. — At an early hour on Thursday morning the good people of Duke-street were alarmed by the intelligence that their street had been blockaded at one entrance. It appears that an immense boiler was being removed from the packet to the steam mills of Mr. James Cowin, in Strand-street, on a truck drawn by eight horses. On reaching the ascent at the entrance to Duke-street, a corner of the boiler came into contact with Mr. Mylchreest's shop door, through which it broke, the boiler itself coming to the ground across the street so as to stop up the passage. The traffic of carts and foot passengers was thus prevented for the greater part of the forenoon, but eventually the unwieldy obstruction was removed, and with considerable difficulty conveyed to its proper destination.
However James Cowin appeared to have financial problems from c.1865 having to appoint a trustee to manage his affairs thus his tenure was somewhat limited and James Spittall acquired the premises and machinery.
Manx Sun, Saturday, 3rd June 1865
DOUGLAS STEAM MILL TO LET.
TO BE LET with immediate possession, the MILL Warehouse, Shop, Stable, Yards, and premises, with frontage to Strand-street and Callow's Slip, lately occupied by James Cowin, & Co. The Mill has recently been fitted up with Dressing Machines, and Machinery on the most approved principle, and contains two Bins, each capable of holding 200 sacks of wheat. There are four pair of stones 4 ft. 2 in. in diameter, driven by an engine of 25 horse-power. The whole is in perfect working order. —Apply to JAMES SPITTALL, June 3. Advocate, Douglas.
It was again put up for rent in January 1868 with identical wording. I cannot find any report of the mill continuing in operation after this period. James Spittall was in the 1870s the agent for Pulrose Mill which burnt down in January 1877 but, being fully insured, was rebuilt by December 1877 though the tenant miller Mr Petters commenced a long court case against the owners and their agent - Spittall comments at one point "A pair of mill stones belonged to myself, and came from the old steam mill in Douglas. .... There was no other machinery except these two stones put in from my old mill." so it would appear that the steam mill was unused at this time.
The next mention of a Steam Mill was in 1868 when Mona's Herald, of Wednesday, 9th December 1868 gave an account of "The gallant rescue of the Crew of a Schooner" whose crew had "run her for the beach under Kentraugh steam mill, where she came to anchor, just outside the broken water". The location exactly matches that of the bone + saw mill - the 1868 plan shows a leat, which is confirmed by a later description so the description of 'Steam Mill' is somewhat of mystery.
Mona's Herald, Saturday, 29th July 1871
NEW STEAM MILL — Mr John Kneale, miller and corn dealer, having purchased the huge warehouse and premises recently erected by Mr Robt. Teare, has had it fitted up with all the modern machinery necessary for the requirements of a first-class trade. The whole of the work, as regards the fitting up, &c, has been carried out under the able and skilful management of Mr Joseph Casement, engineer and millwright of the Saw Mills in this town. We purpose in a short time to give a more minute description of all the improvements which have been introduced into the working machinery of the above-named mill, and we do trust that Mr Kneale will receive such an amount of public patronage as will recompense him for his outlay in his spirited undertaking. It would be well for Ramsey and the Island in general if we had a few more of Mr Kneale's stamp to invest their capital in home manufactories, not even in the corn alone, but in many other branches.
The promised "more minute description" does not appear to have been printed however there is a mention of the same mill in 1882
Isle of Man Times, Saturday, 4th February 1882:
WANTED.
TO MILLWRIGHTS, &c. THE Trustees of the RECHABITE SOCIETY invite TENDERS for the ERECTION of an OATMEAL SIFTER at their Steam Mills, at Derby-road, Ramsey, now in the occupation of Mr Jas. McWhannell.— Apply to J. CRIGGALL, painter, Parliament-street, Ramsey.
Derby Road is a continuation of West Quay and Brown's Directory of 1894 places James McWhannell, Corn Miller, on the Quay whereas the Valuation list places the Rechabite Society, Warehouse Mills &c on West Quay with a £45 rateable valuation.
There is also mention that the windmill in Ramsey, Lezayre Mill, also had a steam engine to assist.
|
|
||
|
|
 |
Water powered Mills etc |
|
|
||
|
Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The
Editor |
||
