Archenfield Archaeology LtdRoyal Worcester PorcelainAlbion Flour Mill (This project was highly commended in 'developer funded archaeology' section of the biennial British Archaeological Awards in Birmingham on 6th November 2006)
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Historical
Background The repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846 stimulated the importation of wheat from the United States which resulted in larger mills being built throughout the country. These were generally located at the ports. The location of the newly established Albion Mill, close to Diglis Basin on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, was ideal for the milling of imported grain brought up from Sharpness on the River Severn. Although traditional milling with stones appears to have taken place at the steam-driven Albion Mill in the early days, roller milling was probably introduced towards the end of the 19th century. Roller milling was first used in Hungary at much the same time that the Albion Mill was built.
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| The flour mill was built by Thomas Lucy of Pershore Mill in 1843 who, around 1850, took Thomas Downing of Henwick Watermill into partnership. The partnership lasted until the 1860s when Thomas Lucy took on his son (Edward John) and the firm was then styled ‘Thomas Lucy & Son’ until 1868, even though Thomas had died in 1864. In 1869 Thomas Suffield Townshend took over the running of the mill. Edward Lucy died in 1874 but the firm continued to trade as Lucy and Townshend until 1881 when T S Townshend bought out the Lucy family. In 1890 T S Townshend died and his three sons (Frank, Percy and Conway) took over the running of the mill and renamed it ‘T S Townshend & Sons’. Before Thomas’s death the sons were already actively drawing up plans for expansion and innovation. It was Percy who appears to have masterminded these innovations including an electric man-lift and an enormous silo which was completed in 1903. It was over 100 feet high, 100 feet by 66 feet in plan and had six floors. A mechanical elevator was also installed which could be swung over the canal from a magnificent portico from which it dropped towards the canal as required. Expansion continued with another silo being built, part of which survives (Block A). After the deaths of Percy and Conway the works continued under Frank Townshend until his death. Further members of the family (Peter, Harry and John Townshend) continued running the mill, but eventually competition from large combines drove the mill into liquidation and it closed in 1960. The site was then taken over by the adjacent Royal Worcester Porcelain Works. An idea of the mill in operation in 1903 can be gleaned from The Worcester Daily Times Trade and Industrial Edition. Electricity was powered by its own generator and was used to light the mill, and there was an electric oven for the testing of different grades of flour; weighing of sacks and lowering onto vans or boats was automatic. The brands of flour milled were ‘Extras’, Leather tie’, Fines’, Plain tie’ and ‘Acme’.
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