Melksham Times Past – Of Water, Fire and Ice: The Island

THE property was one of the best known in Melksham; yet today not only is the structure gone, but the property is so distorted that it is no longer known as “The Island”.

Located alongside the former Avon House, which was pictured in the last issue of the Melksham News, the area is now part of the Cooper Tires’ site. To remind readers, Avon House was occupied by the Matravers family, whose business was in the woollen industry. The Island consisted of a large home and was attached to a flour mill, sometimes referred to as a grist or corn mill. The flow of water was an important element in the operations of both businesses.

Thomas Jefferys (1773-1850) had been leasing the mill in 1793, when the two-acre estate was advertised to be sold at auction. He may have purchased it at that point or within the next decade or two. Jefferys was a benevolent man, being instrumental in funding the establishment of the Quaker Meeting House and cemetery behind on King Street. So it’s no wonder he used his massive grounds in 1822 to invite 23 of his neighbours for a sit-down meal whose ages together amounted to 2,000 years.

Strong in their memories was the hard winter that began on Christmas Eve, 1739, and recollections centred around the ice being about a metre thick in many of the ponds.

Upon Jeffery’s death, his son Thomas (1814-1895) took over the business, moving from his own residence, The Ark on Bath Road. Although he remained in the home for at least a decade, Thomas Jr. advertised to let the business premises to millers and manufacturers in 1854. The classified described the offering as “driving Ten Pairs of Stones, with all requisite machinery, and in good working condition, situated on the River Avon, having a never failing supply of water.” At the end, he added, “No objection to the water power used for any manufacturing purpose.”

John Tayler obtained the business and c1862, the partnership of Messrs Tayler and Ferris, Melksham Mills was formed. In the 1871 census, Tayler is listed as living in the Town Mills as miller and flour merchant, employing 12 men and two boys.

Tayler had erected new stone buildings to expand the mill, attaching them to his residence. 20 years later, tragedy struck early Saturday morning on 8th November, 1873, when one of the most destructive fires caused £30,000 of damage. It destroyed the mill and upwards of 6,000 sacks of grain. Flames took hold of the building within an hour, but the abundance of flowing water assisting the five local fire engines meant both the residence and Matravers woollen business were saved from destruction.

Unfortunately, neither owner nor occupier was insured, which only made worse the sad aftermath of a roofless building, still smouldering, with walls, floors and machinery occasionally tumbling down near the river that contained hundreds of corn sacks floating away to create a curious mantle.

By December 1874, Tayler was celebrating the re-erection of Melksham Flour Mills by hosting a dinner for 80 of his employees but he was undaunted by the weather conditions that week, which were severe, and skaters once again enjoyed their favourite skating spot at Leachpool.

But the rebuilding of the town mills was not the only construction marvel that Tayler was able to accomplish in short measure. Read the next issue of Melksham News to discover what big changes he brought to Melksham in 1889 and what has happened to The Island since then.