The restoration of a 19th-century cider mill, a project undertaken by carpenter Ned Bott, has brought a piece of history back to life. This Ingenio mill, built in 1868 by the Albert Day Foundry in Somerset, was a groundbreaking innovation in cider-making when it was invented in the 1670s. It revolutionised the industry by allowing pips and stalks to pass through the roller, preventing a bitter taste and a rougher drink. This particular mill, however, had been dormant for over a century, and its restoration required a lot of guesswork and creativity. Bott had to recreate missing parts and clean up the iron, a laborious process that took him over a year and a half. The breakthrough came when he found photos of a similar mill on a farm in Hestercombe, providing crucial details for the final touches. The restored mill had its first apple crush in over a hundred years at the Braidwood Museum and Heritage Centre, and it performed exceptionally well. This success has sparked plans for regular use, including the restoration of an early 1900s apple press capable of pressing one tonne or more. The ultimate goal is to produce cider using apples grown on the property where the mill was located, using the same equipment as the original Wilton Cider Factory. This project is a testament to the ingenuity of the past and the importance of preserving historical artifacts. It also highlights the potential for modern applications of ancient technology, as Bott's own cider-making experiments during the COVID lockdown demonstrate. The story of this cider mill's restoration is a fascinating blend of history, craftsmanship, and innovation, offering a glimpse into the past while inspiring new possibilities for the future.
