by
Mildred Cookson, The Mills Archive, UK
In 1874 Frederick Simmons bought the Leighton Buzzard Flour Mills, extended them and made vast alterations. They had only contained a few pairs of millstones driven by the water of the River Ousel, a tributary of the Bedford Ouse. In around 1880, he ordered his first roller mill plant from Henry Simon and claimed to be one of the first country millers to introduce the roller system.
In addition he had a smaller mill at Eaton Bray and, like many more country millers, was a successful farmer, with farms at Billington, Hockliffs, and 30 acres at the Leighton mill, where he kept a “bachelor's hall”.
After his death the mills were run by his son, William, who was at the time of an article in The Miller (October 7th, 1912) working the mills assisted by his nephew, Arthur Buckmaster, the mill manager.
Early in 1911, Henry Simon had remodelled the mill and brought it up to date. A new fireproof screen room was built, equipped with modern washer, emery scourer etc. However, on August 2nd, 1911, just after the improvements had been made, a fire completely destroyed the mill. The new screen room was the only part that was saved. Nothing daunted, even after such a great loss, the mill was rebuilt under the auspices of Henry Simon who designed the new buildings and supplied and installed the new roller mill, plant, silos, etc, on their latest system.
The new mill buildings comprised a silo house, provender mill, warehouse, and engine room fronting onto the road, with the screen house and the new roller mill behind. Each was divided from the other buildings by fireproof walls and connected by outside fireproof gangways.
The mill and screen house stood one on either side of the stream flowing to a turbine. The turbine transmitted water power to the main line shaft by means of a belt. At the other end of the building an oil engine provided supplementary power driving on to the same line, or roller shaft. This was a newly installed 100hp diesel engine that ran at 200rpm and transmitted its power by means of four cotton ropes.
Read more HERE.
In 1874 Frederick Simmons bought the Leighton Buzzard Flour Mills, extended them and made vast alterations. They had only contained a few pairs of millstones driven by the water of the River Ousel, a tributary of the Bedford Ouse. In around 1880, he ordered his first roller mill plant from Henry Simon and claimed to be one of the first country millers to introduce the roller system.
In addition he had a smaller mill at Eaton Bray and, like many more country millers, was a successful farmer, with farms at Billington, Hockliffs, and 30 acres at the Leighton mill, where he kept a “bachelor's hall”.
After his death the mills were run by his son, William, who was at the time of an article in The Miller (October 7th, 1912) working the mills assisted by his nephew, Arthur Buckmaster, the mill manager.
Early in 1911, Henry Simon had remodelled the mill and brought it up to date. A new fireproof screen room was built, equipped with modern washer, emery scourer etc. However, on August 2nd, 1911, just after the improvements had been made, a fire completely destroyed the mill. The new screen room was the only part that was saved. Nothing daunted, even after such a great loss, the mill was rebuilt under the auspices of Henry Simon who designed the new buildings and supplied and installed the new roller mill, plant, silos, etc, on their latest system.
The new mill buildings comprised a silo house, provender mill, warehouse, and engine room fronting onto the road, with the screen house and the new roller mill behind. Each was divided from the other buildings by fireproof walls and connected by outside fireproof gangways.
The mill and screen house stood one on either side of the stream flowing to a turbine. The turbine transmitted water power to the main line shaft by means of a belt. At the other end of the building an oil engine provided supplementary power driving on to the same line, or roller shaft. This was a newly installed 100hp diesel engine that ran at 200rpm and transmitted its power by means of four cotton ropes.
Read more HERE.
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