Tumbling Weir - Ottery St Mary

We were on a very interesting ten mile walk entitled 'In the footsteps of Samuel Taylor Coleridge', today.  At various parts of the walk quotes from his poems were read out.  We walked up various hills and through small villages to arrive at Ottery St Mary where he was born.  

After lunch in a local pub we explored parts of the town where we came upon this Tumbling Weir.  An information board states that on this site at the close of the 18th century was constructed one of the world's first water powered factories.  Here the carding and spinning of wool took place using using water frame machinery.  The original corn mill on the site was demolished and a new larger one built.  Water was conveyed from the mill basin to the 5.5 metre water wheel inside the factory (reported to be capable of producing 30 horsepower) by an overhead aqueduct - the factory launder. A second 3.6 metre overshot wheel powered the corn mill.

The tumbling weir allows the water level to be maintained with any overflow being discharged into the river via a tunnel.  This design is rare in that the water enters through a circular opening at the top that is surrounded by the stream. You can see this opening in the blip.

The mill and large factory buildings are now derelict although there have been plans for property development mentioned in the press over the past few years.

The walk finished with a stroll along the river Otter, time to rest the feet.