Ashland Mill / Ashland Milling Co.
Hanover Co. | Virginia | USA
Watersource: South Anna River near mouth of Falling Creek.
Ashland Mill / Ashland Milling Co.
This mill is located on the southwest corner of the junction of US-1/Washington Hwy and the South Anna River about 2.5 miles north of Ashland. More exactly, turn off US 1 onto Cross Corner Road/Sr 641, then a right turn onto Atkinson Road/Sr 788 and go to the end of the road. The address is 14471Washington Hwy. Also accessable from US 1.
This is one of the oldest mill sites in the county, originally known as Darracott's Mill.
It was bought by W. W. Newman in 1872. during the devastation of the Johnston Flood in 1889, the mill was washed away, but the milldam remained.
The mill was rebuilt in 1892 and Newman's son, E. W. Newman became the owner of the mill and president of the Piedmont Miller's Association. GPS: 37' 48.33N, 77' 28.43W 141' Elevation
*Update: The Ashland Roller Mills also grinds flour under the old label,Patrick Henry Flour, Meal, & Feed, of the Old Byrd Mill which was built on Byrd Mill Road in Louisa County, Virginia, in 1740. Young Patrick Henry visited the mill often, bringing corn, wheat and buckwheat from his father's nearby plantation. Byrd Mill continued in operation at its original site until 1968 when a fire burned the mill to the ground. Remains of the old mill, the dam and the old mill foundation, which once shipped products directly from the mill, still remain in the creek . The Byrd Mill's gourmet mixes are ground today at the Ashland Roller Mill. Ted R. Hazen Thanks also for the last two photos and info. 01-03-2011*
An old photograph of the Ashland Roller Mill along US 1. *Update: The original wooden mill building burned to the ground in 1980. A new mill was then built on the original foundation. The fire was the first in Hanover Co. history to require the response of all eleven fire companies. Jimmie Moran 08/21/2013* The City of Ashland took over the water rights for the mill, and for a time used the water power along with the mill's water turbines to generate electricity for the town of Ashland. When modern electrification of Ashland occurred they cut the electrical wires to the power pole, but left everything still in place.
An interior view of the millstones at the old Byrd Mill along with costumed millers which once stood on Byrd Mill Road - State Route 649 in Louisa County, Virginia.