The Corn Mill and gas-holders in 1982. The gas-holders themselves are a forgotten corner in themselves as they are long gone but it's the Corn Mill that interests me this morning. As far as I can make out it was built by the Drake family who owned Coates Hall in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the dates are unclear. Before that the nearest mill would be at Bracewell, near Yarl Side and I suspect that was earlier going back to when the Tempests had the Manor of Bracewell.
Originally the mill had a large water wheel and was powered by Butts Beck but in later years a water turbine was installed. The arrival of the railway in the mid 19th century meant that cheaper flour could be imported and the mill was relegated to animal feed. In 1850 Billycock Bracewell leased it and eventually bought it. he enlarged the dam and built the gasworks. Eventually the Council bought it and the gasworks. In the 1950s it was run by 'Cramp' (Anthony) Hoyle and was still an animal feed merchants but grinding had finished. Later I think it was owned by Roy Laycock who ran the buses.
I remember Ted Waite once telling me that he and a lad whose name escapes me (Robinson?) who was a bit of an oddball and travelled an entire pony round the farms were set on by Roy to clear out some cottages next to the mill. Roy's wife was running a lingerie mail order business at the time and one of the jobs was to move the stock. The lad held up a brassiere and said she'll never sell these! They have holes in them. They were of course peep-hole bras and crotchless knickers. There's an unusual forgotten corner for you.....