Kidley Coppice

Wood, Forest in Herefordshire

England

Kidley Coppice

Mordiford Mill Utilising all four floors (including the attic space), this 1840s building extends an earlier mill.
When new roller mills producing white flour became popular old mills were used to mill animal feed and eventually went out of business in the early 20th century.
During WWII it was adapted to be used by the home guard by adding gun firing slits in the third floor - two can be seen either side of the window.
<a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2409369">SO5737 : Mordiford Mill</a>
<a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2409358">SO5737 : Mordiford Mill, ground floor</a>
<a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2409468">SO5737 : Mordiford Mill, second floor</a>
<a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2409439">SO5737 : Mordiford Mill, third floor</a>
<a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2409405">SO5737 : Mordiford Mill, fourth floor</a> — Mordiford Mill Credit: Bob Embleton

Kidley Coppice is a picturesque wood located in Herefordshire, a county in the West Midlands region of England. This enchanting forest is nestled within the mesmerizing countryside and spans approximately 60 acres. It is well-known for its natural beauty and serene atmosphere, attracting nature lovers, hikers, and photographers alike.

The wood is predominantly composed of deciduous trees, including oak, beech, ash, and birch, which create a dense canopy overhead, providing shade and shelter for various wildlife species. The forest floor is covered in a lush carpet of ferns, moss, and wildflowers, adding to the charm and tranquility of the area.

Kidley Coppice is crisscrossed by a network of footpaths and trails, making it an ideal destination for those seeking outdoor adventures. Visitors can explore the wood on foot, immersing themselves in its peaceful ambiance while enjoying the sights and sounds of nature. The trails offer panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, providing glimpses of rolling hills, meandering streams, and vibrant meadows.

The wood is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including deer, foxes, rabbits, and a variety of bird species. Birdwatchers can often spot woodpeckers, owls, and songbirds among the treetops. The forest also supports a rich array of plant life, with rare species such as bluebells and orchids adding to its ecological significance.

Kidley Coppice is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and provides a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Its natural beauty and enchanting surroundings make it a perfect spot for relaxation, exploration, and reconnecting with the great outdoors.

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Kidley Coppice Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 52.031897/-2.6151855 or Grid Reference SO5737. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Mordiford Mill

Utilising all four floors (including the attic space), this 1840s building extends an earlier mill. When new roller mills producing white flour became popular old mills were used to mill animal feed and eventually went out of business in the early 20th century. During WWII it was adapted to be used by the home guard by adding gun firing slits in the third floor - two can be seen either side of the window. SO5737 : Mordiford Mill SO5737 : Mordiford Mill, ground floor SO5737 : Mordiford Mill, second floor SO5737 : Mordiford Mill, third floor SO5737 : Mordiford Mill, fourth floor

Bob Embleton

Mordiford Mill, ground floor

The two large cog wheels have wooden teeth made from apple trees because of their hardness. The small wheel is cast iron complete with teeth. The arch on the right wall suggests this may be an earlier mill that was then adapted to the four storey building we see today. The mill is slowly undergoing a total restoration so the hopper and the millstones are being stored down here. SO5737 : Mordiford Mill

Bob Embleton

Mordiford Mill

The rear of the building showing the overshot wheel. Notice the WWII gun slots from which the Home Guard could delay the invading enemy. SO5737 : Mordiford Mill

Bob Embleton

Mordiford Mill, fourth floor

The large wooden wheel could be lifted to tighten the wheel on to a leather drive belt to raise sacks of corn from the ground floor up to for storage or feeding into the mill machinery. SO5737 : Mordiford Mill

Bob Embleton

Mordiford Mill, fourth floor, hoist wheel

Detail of the wheel which when raised tightened onto a leather drive belt to raise sacks from the ground floor. SO5737 : Mordiford Mill, fourth floor

Bob Embleton

Mordiford Mill, third floor

Now being used to story a variety of tools and equipment. The cupboard on the right as used to separate the fine ground flour from the coarse by passing the ground flour through a rotating near horizontal drum with varying mesh hessian coverings to sieve the flour. Notice the WWII defensive gun slots by which the Home Guard would delay the advance of invading troops. SO5737 : Mordiford Mill

Bob Embleton

Mordiford Mill, second floor

The mill has two grindstones driven from the floor below. The vertical oak shaft fed power to two horizontal shafts. The one on the left drove a leather belt up to the top floor to hoist sacks up from the ground floor. The one on the right drove a belt to the rotating flour sieve "cupboard" that was against the right hand wall. The curved wooden panel on the end wall was part of a lever system to control the flow of water over the wheel - located the other side of the wall. SO5737 : Mordiford Mill

Bob Embleton

Mordiford Mill water wheel

Undergoing complete restoration. The buckets have been removed using an angle grinder to cut through the completely corroded bolts. New axle bearings are being made. White limestone from the leet water has covered some of the iron. SO5737 : Mordiford Mill

Bob Embleton

Mordiford Mill mill wheel bucket

The owner of the mill explaining the restoration work. The water wheel, when restored will have many of these metal "buckets" around the circumference to drive the wheel by the weight of the water. SO5737 : Mordiford Mill

Bob Embleton

Mordiford Mill, seed blower

A wooden fan driven from the water wheel blows air through the vertically falling seed to remove dust and other contaminants out of the building. SO5737 : Mordiford Mill

Bob Embleton

Mordiford Mill

This is the floor above the stone floor and shows the defensive loopholes inserted for the home guard so that the bridge could be defended - see SO5737 : Loopholes in a former corn mill. This watermill was open for National Mills weekend.

Chris Allen

Mordiford Bridge and Mill

The mill had loopholes inserted so that the home guard could defend the bridge.

Chris Allen

Mordiford Mill

Watermill of c1840 with predominantly iron machinery and open for National Mills Weekend. This is the largely dismantled overshot waterwheel seen from the top floor. The axle is metal and the buckets are all to be replaced with a 'rusting' stainless steel.

Chris Allen

Mordiford Mill - the stone floor

Two pairs of stones. The left hand tun has been lifted off and the stones are undergoing maintenance. The crown wheel and auxiliary drive are in the centre background. In the foreground is a fan that was used for cleaning (smutting) the corn. An excellent watermill that is being restored painstakingly.

Chris Allen