1
Stoking the boiler, Combe Saw Mill
This was the country's oldest working Cornish boiler (1852) but has since been condemned and is no longer in use. Its restoration would be a major undertaking and it is unlikely to happen.
Image: © Chris Allen
Taken: 16 Oct 1988
0.00 miles
2
Combe Saw Mill steam day
This is on the Blenheim Estate and is still a working saw mill. There is also a preserved heritage section with waterwheel and beam engine. The engine is c.1852 and steamable but the original Cornish boiler has recently been condemned. Therefore this road roller was supplying steam.
Image: © Chris Allen
Taken: 21 Aug 2005
0.01 miles
3
Combe Saw Mill
Although part of Blenheim Estate and adjoining a working sawmill, this part is of heritage intterest with water wheel and 1852 boiler and beam engine.
Now open 8 days per annum and well worth a visit.
Image: © Chris Allen
Taken: 16 Oct 1988
0.01 miles
4
The Evenlode at Combe Mill
The beautiful River Evenlode, the original motive power for Combe Mill, forms the southern boundary of the mill site.
Image: © Des Blenkinsopp
Taken: 26 Jun 2010
0.01 miles
5
Other Buildings at Combe Mill
Apart from the mill itself, there are several other buildings on the site which are now let out to businesses.
Image: © Des Blenkinsopp
Taken: 26 Jun 2010
0.02 miles
6
Combe Mill
This is the estate sawmill for Blenheim Palace and still retains a waterwheel, beam engine and Cornish boiler. This was one of the site's open days with the engine in steam . Since then the site's future has been consolidated with lottery funded work, the waterwheel has been restored and a new boiler installed to replace the Cornish boiler. The latter has been retained as a museum piece but is too far corroded to work again.
Image: © Chris Allen
Taken: 15 May 1983
0.02 miles
7
Combe Sawmill
A working sawmill, this part is of heritage interest with water wheel and 1852 boiler and beam engine.
Image: © Chris Gunns
Taken: 16 May 2010
0.03 miles
8
Combe Mill - boiler
This is the modern packaged Wellman Robey boiler that has replaced the site's life-expired Cornish boiler. For long enough it was believed that the Cornish boiler dated from 1852 but a recent discovery of a ledger entry in the Blenheim Palace accounts shows that it was purchased in January 1887 from Piggott & Sons for £119.50.
Image: © Chris Allen
Taken: 19 Aug 2012
0.03 miles
9
Combe Mill - re-opening
On 19 August 2012 Combe Mill re-opened as a working heritage museum following 9 months of labour and a Lottery grant of £768,000. Here we can see the public and assorted VIPs milling around after the opening ceremony. The buildings are now in fine fettle externally but retain their character internally. The black lean-to in the angle of the buildings is the new boiler house and the black tower houses a new lift to give disabled access to the first floor of the building. The re-opening was a very popular event and seemed to go really well.
Image: © Chris Allen
Taken: 19 Aug 2012
0.03 miles
10
Combe Mill - re-opening
On 19 August 2012 this heritage sawmill with steam and waterpower was re-opened following a renovation funded by £768,000 of Lottery money. Here Lottery Trustee Hilary Lade is addressing the crowd gathered for the event and expressing her satisfaction with a job well done. The lighting and the microphone were both trying for the assembled still and video photographers.
Image: © Chris Allen
Taken: 19 Aug 2012
0.03 miles