WATERMILL - WAKEFIELD WATERFRONT
© Wakefield Art Gallery
Brief History
The Watermill is an important part of the history of the commercial centre of Wakefield.
The Grade II listed building is located to the south of the city, on the east bank of the River Calder, within the historic waterfront conservation area. The Hepworth Wakefield, Yorkshire's new and exiting waterfront art gallery and creative centre, will be built on the adjacent headland site overlooking the mill weir and city beyond.
The Watermill dates from the 1800s and stands on the site of an earlier mill.
The building changed functions over the years. At one time it was used as a corn mill, but it also played a central role in the waterfront's thriving boat-building industry during the twentieth century.
Today, however, it is a different story ...
The Watermill is currently unoccupied and in a very poor, derelict condition. It is designated as an historic building at risk by English Heritage.
Although the Watermill still contains the mill wheel and other original equipment, the dangerous condition of the building makes it inaccessible to the public for safety reasons.
