Vale Mill project worthy of Grand Designs is under way
OPERATION Vale Mill, which is surely worthy of the attention of Grand Designs, has begun.
With full permission obtained to develop the old mill, which was built in 1854, into a single dwelling with a substantial basement level extension, tunnel and cantilevering out from the eastern end of the 19th century quarry, owner James Ridout has begun work on clearing the quarry on its northern boundary adjacent to Rue de L’Ecole where, below, a summerhouse and deck is also earmarked.
Clearance work, which began on Monday, has already unveiled the remains of a couple of long-gone cottages and a ramp has been created to enable safe access to the water’s edge, which did not exist previously.
Richard Ridout, who originally purchased the mill in tandem with the late Roger Perrot before subsequently purchasing his friend’s share, explained the new developments.
‘The mill has got planning permission to be made into a house and within the cliff face we have got permission to put quite a big-sized box where someone can come through a tunnel to the mill and overlook the quarry.
‘We didn’t know what was exactly under the undergrowth and also there was no access to the water’s edge, so, if someone fell in, which no matter how many fences you put in we have evidence that people still come in, they can be rescued.
‘We have unearthed two old buildings which were on the 1850, 1870 ordinance maps, but they sort of vanished off surveys afterwards. They were obviously quarry buildings.’
The unearthed areas will be replaced by grassland and meadow.
‘We’re not doing a Ridout here,’ laughed the former Guernsey Powerboat Week supremo and father of the new owner, pointing out that the project is very sympathetic to nature and wildlife.
It was late last summer that, after eight months’ consideration, the planners granted permission for the work on the protected building on Hougue du Moulin, Vale.
