Eling Tide Mill
In 2010, Castria was commissioned to undertake a condition survey, structural inspection, as well as civil and structural engineering remedial works. Dating from the Mid-1700s, and altered during the 19th and 20th centuries, Eling Tide Mill has a history going back to 1420. Eling Tide Mill is the only working tide mill in the country, currently being run as a mill and a museum, with a shop that sells flour produced at the mill. Since 2009, Eling Tide Mill, along with its associated visitor facilities, Goatee Beach, Bartley were incorporated into the Eling Experience, which is a scheme run by Totton and Eling Town Council. Currently, however the mill is owned by the New Forest District Council.
Castria was commissioned in 2010 to undertake a structural survey of the mill, and its machinery. However, in 2011 the brief was extended to include the undercroft and the seawalls, as they are owned by the same organisation.
One of the challenges that the Castria team faced during this project was the lack of access to the undercroft area. However, with Castria’s expertise in working within confined spaces, this issue was overcome with professionalism. During the inspection of the undercroft significant erosion to the mill race was discovered, which jeopardised the overall stability of the main building and nearby infrastructure.
Castria’s responsibilities included:
- Structural design of new floor access to the undercroft area for maintenance and compliance with current H&S regulations.
- Site investigation
- List Building Consent application
- Cofferdam design for the remedial works
- Structural stabilisation and mill race remedial designs, including specification
- Confined Space Inspections
- Construction work inspection