Fullbridge Mill (EHER 38283)

A late 19th century flour mill, now possibly derelict. It is a three-storey building on a 'T-shaped' plan and has slate-covered roofs with gable parapets. There is an even arrangement of windows on the principle (south-west) elevation, and loading doors in the south-east elevation. The building was originally constructed as a factory for the Bentall Brothers, manufacturers of taps and dies, which explains it uncharacteristic long appearance. The building was acquired by Robert Eve, a Maldon corn merchant, in 1889 and converted into a corner roller mill. In 1897 it was acquired by E.T. and S.H. Baker, who built an adjoining three storey granary. The mill is now subdivided to accommodate a number of office based businesses. Summary from record 15062: Late 19th century steam powered flour mill; the corn was ground by rollers rather than the traditional mill stones.

September 1971. Grade II listed. A late 19th century flour mill, now offices. It is built from London stock brick with yellow/orange segmental brick arches over openings. It has slate-covered roofs with gable parapets. The building is three storeys, on a 'T-shaped' plan and has a taller extension on the south-east side. The major elevations have industrial-type windows set in bays defined by pilasters with moulded-brick Doric capitals. The front (south-west) elevation has a seven-bay forward projecting part of a lower storey height with stepped gable over. The latter has a rectangular window in the centre and circular windows either side. The south-east elevation of the main block towards the river has a circular window in the gable and altered loading doors on each floor, now with an attached metal staircase and hoist. <1> See photos <2>. 1971. Field survey. A late 19th century steam-powered flour mill; the corn was ground by rollers rather than the traditional mill stones. <3> 2008. Water and Steam Mills in Essex field survey. A three storey brick and slated building with an even pattern of large windows divided vertically by buttress strips. The uncharacteristic long low appearance of the mill stems from its previous use. It was described as a newly erected factory in 1879 for the Bentall Brothers, manufactures of taps and dies. This venture was unsuccessful and the building was acquired by Robert Eve, a Maldon corn merchant in 1889 and converted into a corn roller mill and renamed ‘The Steam Roller Mills’. It was run first by Messrs. O.D and L Belsham and later by E.T. Baker of Langford, who with S.H. Baker acquired ownership of the mill in 1897. While it was in Belshams occupancy an adjoining three storey granary was built. The mill building to the east was presumably a later venture in roller milling, and it still works today. Fullbridge Mill is sited to the north of Maldon town centre and within an area of industrial development extending along riverside, immediately east of Fullbridge and on the northern bank of the river Chelmer. The former steam roller mill faces onto the road (Fullbridge) and lies adjacent to Mill Lane, presumably associated with an earlier watermill located to the west. The mill is now subdivided to accommodate a number of office based businesses. The original layout adopts a 'T-shaped' plan with a central five bay 3½ storey projection to the roadside and a taller nine-bay 3½ storey perpendicular range to the rear. A modern off-centre addition extends to the rear (east) of the taller rear range. Dating to 1879, the mill is constructed in yellow brick, with slate covered gable ended roofs and is built in pier and panel construction with external pilasters capped below an eaves band by simple brick capitals. Apart from the modern accretions the mill is a symmetrical building with a central forward-set five-bay range crowned by an ornamental geometric pediment, with two bulls eye windows, brick kneelers and a brick gable parapet. The window apertures are mainly segmental headed with code stone sills apart from a central arch headed window on the second floor. The ‘industrial-type’ windows described in the List Description and in Bookers Survey have been replaced throughout with modern multi-pane timber casements. The central doorway a ground floor has an ornate timber surround. The rear range is built with larger window apertures which conform to the style and replacement already mentioned. A former taking-in door converted to a window is present in the northern bays, while a tier of loading doors remain at each floor level in the southern gable end wall. These have since been reused to provide access to an external iron fire escape. Triangular dormers have been inserted into the outer bays of the roadside roof pitch while large ventilator cowls project through the rear roof plane. Internal access was not gained. Another, later roller mill building (EHER 40720) is sited immediately east and to the rear of Fullbridge Mill. As this mill appears to share the same site as Fullbridge it was presumably part of the same operation. Present use: Redundant Condition: Fair <4> The Fullbridge mill, built in around 1879 by the Bentall Brothers for the manufacture of taps and dies, was acquired by a corn merchant in 1889 and converted into a corn roller mill. This gable-ended, three storey yellow stock building, with a grey slate roof, still stands. Now converted into offices, little survives internally and there is no clear evidence of the location of the engine house. <5> Fullbridge Steam mill / grade II / some gear. <6> NRHE data transfer: Factory, Fullbridge. Late 19thc. A 3-storey brick and slated building 'newly erected' in 1879 by Bentall brothers as tap and die factory. Converted about 10 years later to a steam-powered roller corn mill. Recently reverted to a factory. <7>