(94) Sulby Starch Mill
From 1868 O/S Plans IV/11 + IV/12 - SC 381934
I'm not certain which is the Mill though later purchase
of ground to the north would suggest the lower group in plot 948 - nor
even if where I photographed in September 2002 is the same building
as in 1868 - the wheel was in its final stage of decay - it was not
obvious how it was fed - the remaining buckets would indicate it turned
anti-clockwise thus implying an elevated leet across what appears to
be a later doorway - there is a similar photo dated May 1997 in the
Cowin Collection held by Manx Museum but this too shows no water supply.
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The first rental for a Mill at the site was in 1721 - an entry in the 1760
copy of the 1704 Composition Book
Arthur Cowle for a new Tuck miln to be erected on his own rented land upon
Sulby River lately lycensed by the Governor as appears in the Exchequer Book
1720 for which he agreed to pay 6s annuall rent & also £6 fine
This 6s rental can be followed through the Lib Assed where it is #14 in the
Mill Rentals until the ending of Lord's Rent in 1911- though the actual building
and usage might change.
Manks Advertiser, Saturday, 19th August 1815;
TO BE SOLD, OR LET, On THURSDAY the 24th SEPTEMBER next,
ON THE PREMISES, By Eleven of the Clock in the Forenoon, ALL and singular,
the Whole of Mr. THOMAS BREW'S and WM. MARTIN'S Concerns, belonging to them
in Balla-Cubberagh, in the Parish of Lezayre; that is to say, the Tuck Mill,
Dye House, Dwelling House, and Out Offices; with or without the Flax Mill,
together with the Land to the said Concerns appertaining; commencing from
the 12th of November next. The Conditions of Sale or Lease will be particularly
mentioned on that Day, previous to the Sale or Setting. Any Person or Persons
inclinable to purchase, or to be a Lessee, may apply any time previous to
the said Day, unto the said THOS. BREW or Wm MARTIN, who will treat for the
same. The Situation and Conveniences of the said Concerns as Dye House and
Tuck Mill, &c is exceedingly eligible, and the only in those Branches
of any consequence on the Northside of the Island.
Manks Advertiser, Thursday, 24th January 1822
TO be SOLD, by Auction, on the Premises, (by the Coroner of Ayre Sheading,)
on Wednesday, the 13th Day of February next the Whole RIGHT, TITLE, and INTEREST
of THOMAS BREW, of Lezayre, to those Premises of HOUSES and LANDS, situate
in Ballacoberagh, in the Parish of Lezayre; being the Two-thirds of a FLAX
MILL, the best on the North Side of the Island; a Tuck Mill, Dye House, a
good Dwelling House, and Out Offices; also, a large Tract of good Arable and
Pasture LAND; also, the One-Eighth Part of an extensive PARK, called Carrin.
The Whole of the said Premises are well worthy the Attention of a good Purchaser,
having a constant Supply of Water all Seasons of the year. Sulby River adjoins
one Side thereof, being the best in the Island for Trout and Salmon. The Auction
to commence precisely at 12 o'Clock, For further Particulars, apply to Mr.
THOMAS BREW, Brewer, Lezayre, or to the said Coroner.
Manx Sun 7th February 1846 & Mona's Herald, 11th February1846
carried identical reports;
STARCH MANUFACTORY AT SULBY. — A company from Manchester have erected
extensive and commodious buildings at Sulby Glen, for the manufacture of starch.
They commenced operations last week, and even in the present incomplete state
of the buildings, can manufacture thirty tons of potatoes in twenty-four hours.
The buildings, when finished, will be about three times as extensive as at
present. It is expected that when these mills are complete, the northern farmers
need not export many of their potatoes. The home demand will, it is expected,
be equal to the supply.
Registered Deed Nov 1871 #23 note delayed passage through Court - only captioned
12th Feb 1870 and registered 8th November 1871 - possily when Nathaniel Lloyd
was considering a sale.
dated 24 Mar 1847;John Kewin(Cleemagh, Lezayre) sells for £6 to Nathaniel
Lloyd(Manchester) a parcel of that orchard lying above BallaCooberagh Village
for the purpose of conveying the water from the river above the orchard and
direct thro the sd orchard to the sluice now conveying the water to the Mills
lately erected by the sd Nathan Lloyd commonly called Carrin Mills (+ a detailed
description of required water course + stone walls etc) Witt John Corlett,
P Cowley;
It would appear that the Mills were built or rebuilt by Lloyd - the name would
appear to come from the 1822 sale which mentions an eighth part of the intack
called Carrin [#197 in list of 334ac] - there are two deeds of Lloyd buying
land in Lezayre, one dated in 1847 where it states that Lloyd was a tenant following
Cain and Thomas Southward who moved to a larger mill. The later 1849 deed is
a purchase of a recently erected cottage to the north of the mill, as noted
in the 1838 sale of the ground, probably for the use of Wm Walker noted in the
newspapers, as of the Starch Mills, around this time
Registered Deeds Aug 1856 #11
dated 20 Mar 1847;Mrs Jane Barker(widow, Sulby) + children Eliza, Jane and
George(druggist Liverpool) sell for £400 to Nathaniel Lloyd(stach manufacturer,
Manchester) - mortgages to be repaid - two undivided third parts of Ballacubberagh
in parish of Lezayre currently held by Lloyd as tenant and formerly held by
Charles Cain(dyer) + Thomas Southward as tenants, bounded on north by Wm Cowle,
Philip Moore + John Kewin, on east by Glen moar river, on south by John Kewin
+ John Quayle and on West by John Kewin
Registered Deeds Oct 1856 #24
dated 15 Mar 1849;John Cowle(Creg Moar, Lezayre) + wife Mary als Cottier
+ mother Catharine Cowle(widow) sell for £22 to Nathaniel Lloyd(Manchester)
that small plot of land in Ballacooberagh in Parish of Lezayre purchased by
Charles Cowle (decd) from John Kewin by deed dated 9 Nov 1838 commonly called
Foe Cheeil and whereupon a house or cottage has been erected by Charles Cowle;
Witt John Corlett, W Walker; (all Cowles 'x')
NSS May 1839 #27
dated 9 Nov 1838;John Kewin(Ballacuberagh,Lezayre) + wife Margaret als Kermod
sell for £1 to Charles Cowle(Ballacuberagh) a small parcel of land called
Foe Cheeil) part of Ballacuberagh adj road or Philip Moore on west, the Tuck
Mill on south, the Mill race partly on south and John Caley + mother on east
and north and also sd John Caley + John Cleator on south or SE; Witt John
Corlett, Robert Cain; Kewins both 'x'
Isle of Man Times, 24th October 1868
SULBY STARCH MILLS. — These mills are rapidly increasing in size, and
the commodities manufactured there in popularity. The increase in the starch
trade has lately been very considerable, under the able management of Mr Webb,
who has, however, been removed to London, to take charge of the wholesale
depot there, the large increase having rendered the presence of an experienced
person absolutely necessary at the London house. We have seen samples of the
Corn Flour manufactured at the mills, which we think rivals the famous "
Brown and Polson's."
Registered Deed Oct 1874 #48
dated 26 Oct 1874;Indenture between Nathaniel Lloyd(Church near Accrington)
and Robert Westall Kemp(Churh) by which Kemp is to register a Limited Company
to acquire for £8000 the Sulby Glen Starch Mills together with 30ac
of land &c in parish of Lezayre
Registered Deed Dec 1875 #23 Kemp + wife + Lloyd's agreement re purchase by
company The Sulby Glen Starch Mills dated 21 Dec 1875
Registered Deed Mar 1876 #33
dated 8 Feb 1876;Agreement between parties + company to pay outstanding £6500
to Lloyd in staged instalments
Mona's Herald, 14th September 1887;
On WEDNESDAY, September 28th, 1887.Sulby Starch Mills, Machinery, Land, and
Promises for Sale.
MR THOMSON ie instructed to SELL by AUCTION, on WEDNESDAY, September 28th,
all and singular those extensive and valuable Premises known as the SULBY
GLEN STARCH WORKS, in the Parish of Lezayre. They comprise commodious Mills,
with all the necessary Machinery for grinding either maize or rice, and converting
the same into Starch ; Drying Kilns, Packing-rooms, Warehouse Offices, Stables
and all the other requisite buildings and conveniences, together with a good
Foreman's Residence, and about 20 Acres of excellent Land. The water supply
is excellent, in fact the best on the Island. The property being in good condition,
and within 4¼ miles from Ramsey, presents a grand opportunity to Capitalists,
to either carry on the Starch Mills business, or convert it into any other
lucrative business.
Sale on the Premises at 2 o'clock, afternoon.
In the meantime, for particulars, apply to Mr R. CROSSLAND, Solicitor, Bury
; or the AUCTIONEER. Douglas.
Isle of Man Times, 4th April 1896
Mr W. Gadd, owner of the Sulby Glen Starch Mills, had entered an objection
to the valuation, but there was no appearance on his behalf, and the matter
fell to the ground.
Ramsey Courier, 2nd June 1896
Messrs Southward Brothers, woollen manufacturers,
Sulby Glen Mills, have been experiencing for some time past that their premises
are somewhat inadequate to satisfactorily carry on their business, on account
of the steady increase in their trade. In order to cope with this increased
work, the manufacturers have purchased the greater portion of the old Starch
Works, Sulby Glen, where, a good number of years ago, starch was manufactured,
but the buildings have been allowed to get into a state of dilipadation. The
place is being fitted up with machinery, &c., and a portion of the work
will be diverted to the new premises. This arrangement will certainly give
satisfaction, as they will be able, with but little expense, to use the water
for driving the wheel both at the Starch Mills, and also at the present works.
A number of Ballaugh masons are making the necessary alterations, which will
be completed shortly.
IAIoM states the building was gutted and the chimney destroyed when it became
the Northern Water Board's filter plant in 1935.
Plaque above 2 mill stones along road into Old Sulby village
References
[IAIoM]T.A.Bawden, L.S. Garrad, et al The Industrial Archaeology of the
Isle of Man Newton Abbot: David & Charles 1972 (ISBN 0-7153-5440-X)
- a brief discussion of the history of the mill is given pp149/150
