waveydave
Out & About Exploration
I know Boothwood dam's bin done before so i wont dwell long here and ,instead, head on down to the base of the dam and downstream through the culvert and into what seems like another world.
DSCF0294 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
Best send the other 'alf in first..
DSCF0333 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
Immediately as you exit the culvert an old derelict bridge (boothwood bridge) stands before you, overgrown and missing much of the parapet. The bridge once led to boothwood bridge mill which was demolished by united utilities leaving almost no trace. Not even the path to the bridge exists and much scrambling through undergrowth and sliding down muddy banks was needed to get to the top of the bridgeDSCF0335 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1023 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
This was all i could find of what was once a 4 storey mill ,abandoned around 1919.
DSCF1036 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
100yds downstream we find the remains of Boothwood paper mill, also abandoned about 100yrs ago
a large stone lined pit with a massive timber beam across has me intrigued, water pours in from all over and dissappears underground and adjacent, 2 glazed brick circular vats sit half buried. probably used for bleaching or washing the pulp. An engine bed lies beneath my feet but so much is hidden by leaf litter including some very boggy ground and ankle breaking holes.
DSCF1405 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1404 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1382 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
A long wall holds back the bank and has some interesting holes (a feature we've seen elsewhere). In one a bearing still sits which would once have held one end of one of the many shafts in the mill that would have transferred power to where it was needed.
DSCF1413 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1414 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
Another surprise was this curved weir, about 20ft high with a sluice gate at the top which let water through to the opening at the bottom left (although both are dry and the water is finding another way down)
DSCF1402 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1403 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
Turning to the left we find a second bridge, old ,narrow, leaning slightly, but in sound order.
DSCF1406 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1412 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
wish id found this path earlier, its hidden by trees on google, a direct route back up to the road. looks like a chimney base at the top, left of the steps
DSCF1424 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
on the other side of the path some more substantial remains of boothwood spring mill stand, next to the river an arch appears to be a water channel (some timber can be seen among the debris), Possibly the tail race with water coming from a millpond at the top of the bank
DSCF1431 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1429 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1407 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
Nearby a non existant steel beam leads me into the ground floor of spring mill. No doors, or gates, more of a thoroughfayre, but with some great features inside
DSCF1452 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1427 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1409 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1410 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1411 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
this sits close to the ground and showed signs of wear around the middle, possibly done by a rope being pulled around it.
DSCF1437 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1439 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1449 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1440 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1443 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1447 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1441 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1448 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
I took these pics over a several visits and was fortunate on one visit to see boothwood dam overflowing
DSCF1502 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
the vast amount of water coming over the top almost fills the culvert and i wonder how much more of this the old bridge can take.
boothwood dam by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
Thanks for looking
DSCF0294 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
Best send the other 'alf in first..
DSCF0333 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
Immediately as you exit the culvert an old derelict bridge (boothwood bridge) stands before you, overgrown and missing much of the parapet. The bridge once led to boothwood bridge mill which was demolished by united utilities leaving almost no trace. Not even the path to the bridge exists and much scrambling through undergrowth and sliding down muddy banks was needed to get to the top of the bridgeDSCF0335 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1023 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
This was all i could find of what was once a 4 storey mill ,abandoned around 1919.
DSCF1036 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
100yds downstream we find the remains of Boothwood paper mill, also abandoned about 100yrs ago
a large stone lined pit with a massive timber beam across has me intrigued, water pours in from all over and dissappears underground and adjacent, 2 glazed brick circular vats sit half buried. probably used for bleaching or washing the pulp. An engine bed lies beneath my feet but so much is hidden by leaf litter including some very boggy ground and ankle breaking holes.
DSCF1405 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1404 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1382 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
A long wall holds back the bank and has some interesting holes (a feature we've seen elsewhere). In one a bearing still sits which would once have held one end of one of the many shafts in the mill that would have transferred power to where it was needed.
DSCF1413 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1414 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
Another surprise was this curved weir, about 20ft high with a sluice gate at the top which let water through to the opening at the bottom left (although both are dry and the water is finding another way down)
DSCF1402 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1403 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
Turning to the left we find a second bridge, old ,narrow, leaning slightly, but in sound order.
DSCF1406 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1412 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
wish id found this path earlier, its hidden by trees on google, a direct route back up to the road. looks like a chimney base at the top, left of the steps
DSCF1424 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
on the other side of the path some more substantial remains of boothwood spring mill stand, next to the river an arch appears to be a water channel (some timber can be seen among the debris), Possibly the tail race with water coming from a millpond at the top of the bank
DSCF1431 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1429 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1407 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
Nearby a non existant steel beam leads me into the ground floor of spring mill. No doors, or gates, more of a thoroughfayre, but with some great features inside
DSCF1452 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1427 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1409 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1410 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1411 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
this sits close to the ground and showed signs of wear around the middle, possibly done by a rope being pulled around it.
DSCF1437 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1439 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1449 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1440 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1443 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1447 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1441 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
DSCF1448 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
I took these pics over a several visits and was fortunate on one visit to see boothwood dam overflowing
DSCF1502 by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
the vast amount of water coming over the top almost fills the culvert and i wonder how much more of this the old bridge can take.
boothwood dam by Tazz & Moomoo, on Flickr
Thanks for looking