BILBERRY MILL

Just below the reservoir embankment stood Bilberry Mill, a three-storied building, about twenty yards long. 

Image produced from the www.old-maps.co.uk service with permission of Landmark Information Group Ltd. and Ordnance Survey

This was used chiefly as a fulling mill, and was tenanted by the executors of Messrs. Broadhead and Whitely. 
The mill was built a little out of the direct course of the water, so that the building did not receive the full force of the flood.  About ten feet of the gable and nearest stream was carried away. 

In a cottage adjoining lived Charles Battye, the miller, who also had the charge of the shuttles of the reservoir. 
He was so impressed with the conviction that a fearful catastrophe was impending, that he had sent his wife and family away from the house, and had even removed his furniture, as he thought, to a place of safety. 

At the time the embankment gave way he was on the house, and had a narrow escape with his life.  He rushed out, and saw his furniture washed away from the spot upon which he had removed it away for safety. 

At the other end of the mill was a cottage, occupied by the engineer Joseph Charlesworth, but this proved to be clear of the floods course. 

Altogether, it was estimated that at least £1,000 damage had been done, and about 20 people thrown out of employment. 

Some idea of the force of the torrent about this spot may be gathered from the fact that for a considerable distance on the valley side of this mill the ground was covered eight or nine feet deep with stones and rubbish, principally the remains of the reservoir embankment. 

Piles of these stones can be seen at the present, just as they were left by the flood.  In some parts the debris blocked up the ground fully as high as the second floor of the factory.