Behind Gibson Mill (Hardcastle Crags NT) there are a couple of mill ponds that offer various photo opportunities and, if you're lucky, some rather good reflections. The valley is deep and steep-sided so the winter sun doesn't penetrate far but at least in the winter the leafless trees offer some views through.
The water-powered mill, built in 1800, was one of the first mills of the Industrial Revolution and produced cotton cloth until 1890. In the early 1900s it was used as an 'entertainment emporium', popular with local people, offering dining, dancing and a roller-skating rink. It was disused after WWII and passed into the care of the National Trust in 1950. It is now run sustainably and completely 'off-grid' with solar panels, wood-powered boilers, water from a local spring and composting toilets. (Having said that, I did notice a diesel generator out the back. Perhaps is not sunny enough in winter to power the café.)
It's not only the mill that provides interesting reflections - hooray for the red jacket!
Glad to see old buildings repurposed! Vary nice reflections in your photos!
ReplyDeleteGood shots!
ReplyDeleteMy secret dream is to live in a mill on a river. Could be precarious sometimes, but oh so attractive. (I live in a place where water is not ....well ....plentiful.)
ReplyDelete