Benthall Corn Mill and its Giant Waterwheel

Hidden amongst the trees on Benthall Bank are the remains of Benthall Corn Mill, once home to one of the most striking pieces of machinery in the Ironbridge Gorge: an enormous 60-foot diameter waterwheel.

The Mill and Waterwheel

Benthall Corn Mill stood on Benthall Bank above Ironbridge. Its huge backshot waterwheel took advantage of the high head of water available on the steep hillside. At approximately 60 feet in diameter, the wheel towered over the mill buildings and became a distinctive feature of the landscape.

A Mill Recorded in Art

The mill and wheel were recorded by artist Paul Sandby Munn in 1802. His painting provides an important early view of the site and shows the extraordinary scale of the wheel within the steep Benthall landscape.

Photographs of the Giant Wheel

Later photographs and postcards provide remarkable views of the wheel, including images from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. People standing beside it give a particularly good impression of its enormous size.

The End of the Waterwheel

The wheel survived into the 20th century but was eventually dismantled and taken for scrap. Local memories add another layer to the story. Following our recent history post, local resident Derek Bennett told us that his father helped remove fittings from the wheel with L. Oakley, the scrapman.

Benthall Corn Mill Today

The landscape has changed dramatically. Woodland has reclaimed much of the former industrial site and only ruins of the mill remain. Historic maps, however, clearly mark the Corn Mill on Benthall Bank and help place this almost forgotten piece of Ironbridge Gorge history in the modern landscape.

Do you know more?

We are always interested in local memories, photographs and information about the Ironbridge Gorge. If you have family connections to Benthall Corn Mill or know more about the dismantling of the great wheel, please get in touch.