Brassmill

Brassmill - Built circa 1645

Brassmill is an exceptional restored 17th Century former mill in a lovely rural position, with beautiful gardens nestled in the Gloucestershire countryside in England. The main house boasts a wonderful flagstone Reception Hall, 3 further reception rooms, Study, Kitchen Breakfast Room, Utility/Laundry. A principal bedroom suite, 5 further bedrooms and two further bathrooms.

Brassmill is situated in convert|2.8|acre|m2 of unspoilt rural countryside just North West of Gloucester and east of Ross-on-Wye on the banks of the Ell Brook. The area is ideal for the accessibility to the M50, A40 and M5.

There are a number of outbuildings including a substantial stone barn and the Ell Brook runs along one side of the house and has bridges and a fascinating mill pond. The main house is in excess of convert|4000|sqft|m2 with a further convert|1700|sqft|m2 of outbuilding space including the barn, two stables, feed store, dog pen and double garage.

The nearby Forest of Dean covers over 110 square kilometres of woodland and lies between the rivers Wye and Severn, in the western part of Gloucestershire, and on the borders of Wales and Herefordshire. The Forest of Dean is one of the most distinctive areas of Britain having a seductive charm and character that is uniquely its own. The stunning landscapes and spectacular scenery have inspired artists, craftspeople, inventors, poets and playwrights, as well as the many visitors who return year after year. [http://www.visitforestofdean.co.uk]

Extract from 'Old Newent & District'

by David Bick

In the 17th Century there were at least two watermills for converting brass into wire by drawing it through dies and Gloucester's importance as a pin making centre no doubt provided the market, the raw brass probably coming from Bristol.One of the works, pulled down in 1706, was south-east of Mote Farm, Tibberton, where only a few hummocks and pieces of crucible in the soil now indicate the spot (733207). Fred Osborne of Tibberton told me he had ploughed up 'moulds' like a basin about 8 inches across and convert|1.5|in|mm thick, and there is a tradition of a pinworks nearby with the pins being taken away in little boats down the brook.There are also State Papers (16/205/11) informing us that about 1632, Tilsley the Gloucester pinmaker was getting his brass from Taynton. At Malswick, the old BRASSMILL still stands on the Ell Brook, though long since converted to other purposes and latterley a dwelling house. Records state that about 1645 the mill was converted to a brass hammer-mill, and it is a pity that so little is known of these unusual enterprises.

Extract from 'Mills of the River Leadon and it's tributaries'

by Davies, Gwladys Abbott, RGS Editior (1936-1963)

A little way downstream from Okle Pitcher Mill is BRASSMILL, another mill now (1936) converted to a dwelling house, but still retaining it's long narrow pool with a stoutly built dam some convert|15|ft|m high. The wheel was apparently a massive affair with closely overlapping floats, but like so many other pieces of mill machinery was claimed for scrap metal during the war. The last Miller to work here was named Fawkes, and claimed to be a descendent of Guy Fawkes. The mill is still referred to locally as Fawkes Mill.