PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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Valletort Mills in Millbay Road, Stonehouse, Plymouth, were built for Messrs Congdon & Harris. They were later acquired by the Cornish firm of Messrs Hosken, Trevithick & Polkinhorn Company Ltd, who already owned many flour, wool and provender mills throughout Cornwall. Originally operated by Trevithick's steam engines, during their ownership the two mills, one for flour and the other for animal feed, were rebuilt with horizontal rollers instead of the traditional millstones and changed over to electrical power. In due time the firm became associated with Messrs Spillers Ltd, who also owned the great grain silo at Millbay Docks. The Valletort Mills were the last flour mills in Plymouth and ceased operation at the end of September 1976, putting 200 local people out of work. After the closure, the only flour mill west of Bristol was at Thorverton, in Mid Devon.
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