Melksham Times Past

The move from Ark House to Avon Mill House

A column about days gone by in Melksham by local historian Lisa Ellis

When Thomas Jefferys (senior) died in December 1850, his son Thomas Jefferys (junior) decided to move from his premises, Ark House on Bath Road, into his father’s home at the Avon Mills to be on site at the flour mills – the family business started by his father.

The sale of his furnishings was announced in the Devizes Gazette in March 1851, and the detailed description of these items gives us an interesting glimpse into the lifestyle of a 37-year-old, successful, married man with five children.

This article is quoted in its entirety: “Ark House, Melksham, Wilts Nearly New and Elegant Household Furniture Horse, Carriages and other valuable Effects Messrs Hinder and Son have been favoured with instructions to sell by auction, on the premises, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 1st and 2nd of April 1851, the whole of the genteel household furniture, antique china, carpets, about 500 vols of books, horses, carriages, and other effects, the property of Thomas Jefferys, esq, who is about to remove from his residence to that of his late father, together with a large portion of the furniture and other property of the late Thomas Jefferys, esq. In the bedrooms are lofty 4 post, French and other bedsteads, with damask and other hangings, excellent beds and bedding, wardrobes, drawers and the usual chamber requisites.

“The drawing and sitting rooms are furnished with walnut and mahogany furniture of a costly description, with brilliant chimney glasses, sofas, sets of chairs, damask curtains, large Brussels carpets, &c &c.

“The dining room is furnished with handsome mahogany telescope, dining, and other tables; sideboards, lounging and other chairs, lamps, oil paintings, vases &c &c. The kitchen, brew house and servants’ offices are replete with a great variety of good and useful articles, comprising breakfast and dinner services, antique china, glass &c. In the stable and yard – a light close carriage suitable for 1 or 2 horses, a good barouche with head and lamps (patent axles), useful gig with cane back, capital nag good in saddle or harness, good grey carriage horse, several sets of harness, brewing utensils, peacocks and peahens, garden roller, cucumber frames and lights, &c. A portion of the furniture is nearly new, and has been selected with great taste.

“To be viewed on Monday the 31st day of March by catalogues, 6d each, which may be obtained at the Bear Inn, Devizes; George Inn, Trowbridge; Angel Inn, Chippenham; and of the auctioneer’s, Melksham. Business will commence each day punctually at 12 o’clock. The horses and carriages will be sold at 3 o’clock the second day of the sale. About 15 tons of cast iron which will be sold the second day of sale in suitable lots. The house to be let for one year, with immediate possession with the right of fishing for five miles in the river Avon — rent moderate. To treat apply to Thos. Jefferys, esq, Melksham.”

I had a chuckle out of a mental image of peacocks running around Bath Road in the 1850s, though I’m sure they were confined to the back garden. After Jefferys moved in, the mills were completely rebuilt around 1853. Jefferys remained in Avon Mill House until the 1860s, when John Taylor moved in and took over the milling business. The mills themselves were owned by Mr Ferris of Draycote.

The milling business owned by John Taylor was described as the most extensive millers and corn dealers in England. In November 1873, there was a massive fire at the mills which caused its destruction.

Being on the River Avon, the power source was from water wheels, but when the flow wasn’t sufficient, steam was used for power. The fire started in the stores room and destroyed nearly 6,000 sacks of grain, some of it just purchased from America; the total damage was estimated at nearly £30,000. Neither Mr Ferris nor Mr Taylor was fully insured. The mill was destroyed, but Avon Mill House (later known as “The Island”), was saved, as well as some of the outhouses. The cloth mills of Messrs Matravers close by were threatened by the fire, but firefighters kept the premises well saturated with water. The four-storey, roofless flour mill building smouldered for days. All was not lost, however.

Days before Christmas 1874, Mr Tayler treated the workmen of the flour mills to a dinner that upwards of 80 people attended. It was to celebrate the re-erection of the Melksham Flour Mills.

Faithful readers of this column might recall that Tayler installed electricity into his home at Avon Mills in 1889, the first residential installation in the county, if not further afield. The town mills ceased production in 1939 and employees were transferred to the mill at Avonmouth.