Patterson's Spade Mill

From Wikishire
Jump to: navigation, search
Patterson's Spade Mill

Templepatrick
County Antrim

National Trust

Interior of Patterson Spade Mill, Carnanee, Templepatrick - geograph.org.uk - 153890.jpg
Grid reference: J261854
Information
Website: Patterson's Spade Mill

Patterson's Spade Mill in Templepatrick, County Down, is the last working water-driven spade mill in daily use in the British Isles.

The mill is today owned and run by the National Trust and gives visitors a live experience of the industry involved in the production of the humble spade, a must basic and vital tool.

Here the furnace blazes, the hammers thump and the air is ful of the smell the grit of the heat of the flame, in a traditional spade-making mill.

Working at the mill

There are guided tours capturing life during the Industrial Revolution, revolutionary even in the craft of spade-making.

Visitors are unlikely to emerge with a face as long as a Lurgan spade, but they will learn the origin of this expressive phrase.

Outside links

Commons-logo.svg
("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Patterson's Spade Mill)