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Page 7 |
Newsletter 142 August 2023 © Hampshire Mills Group |
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Cox's Mill, Cheddar
Andy Fish
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© Copyright Paul Farmer and licensed
for reuse
under this
Creative Commons Licence
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Back in June I spent a few days just outside
Cheddar. Whist driving past Cox’s Cave at the
bottom of the gorge, I noticed that Cox's Mill
Hotel, a converted mid-19th century flour mill that
had been empty for approximately 15 years, had
fallen into disrepair in recent years and was now
beyond economic repair, had been demolished.
Fortunately,
the turbine that was inside the former mill is still
extant. The hotel site will now make way for a
public open space and car parking. |
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Simon
Townsend, Cheddar Gorge and Caves operations manager
told a public meeting back in 2019 the premises was
"an eyesore" and was becoming unsafe, and it is
hoped the changes would enhance the Lower Gorge, the
views and the area around Cox's Cave, and the
Queen's Row shops.
The owners,
Longleat Estates Ltd, won permission to knock down
the hotel in 2020. Unfortunately work on the scheme
was held up due to the Covid outbreak. The next
stage of the redevelopment will see improvements to
the water course and the creation of a water
feature. |
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During
the second phase the public square will then be
extended. Longleat Estates Ltd will then look to
restore the water turbine from the hotel's basement
and install an Archimedes' Turbine with the
potential to generate hydroelectric power. The
final part of the scheme will be to build a visitor
centre next to the public square, including possible
tourist accommodation and activity spaces. |
Andy Fish |
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