Members, partners and friends had a most enjoyable and interesting visit to the House Mill, Bromley-by-Bow. Originally built in 1776, on a man-made island on an existing pre-Domesday site, it is the largest surviving tidal mill in the world. The mills provided flour for the local bakers of Stratford-atte-Bow who sold their bread in the City of London. A rare exception is recorded in 1588, the year of the Spanish Armada, when a gunpowder mill contributed to England’s war effort against Spain. 

With the advent of the Gin Craze in the 18th century, several entrepreneurs came together to put the mills to an altogether different use – as part of the Three Mills Distillery. With supply contracts to the Royal Navy, the company grew in success and had its own carpenters, coopers and even operated a large farm of pigs, fedon waste products.

In 1776 the House Mill was built on the site of an earlier mill and between two houses, hence its name.The iconic Clock Mill, opposite, was rebuilt in 1817. There was also a third mill, a windmill, which survived until about 1840.

In the early 19th century the distillery was owned by the Tory MP Philip Metcalfe, before its acquisition by J&W Nicholson & Co in 1872 which produced the once popular Lamplighter Gin and established a network of freehouses, many of which continue today.

The House Mill ceased milling in 1941 after the area was bombed during the Second World War, but the Clock Mill continued to operate until 1952.

 More information and detail at http://www.housemill.org.uk/about-us/