Southern Pine Brings 19th Century Mill Back To Life
A 19th century Welsh woollen mill is enjoying a new lease of life as a restaurant thanks to some creative thinking in timber construction.
The old stone mill, dating back to 1820 and in need of major renovation, was used as nothing more than a store prior to its reincarnation as a bistro café.
Paul Hummel and his son, Adam, who run Seiont Nurseries and Campsite at Pontrug, Caernarfon, saw the potential of the substantial two-storey mill to become a major commercial asset.
One of the snags was that there was no stairway to the first floor, the area earmarked for the restaurant. The only way up was via an external ramp, a hangover from its days as a working mill.
The solution was to build timber stairways and a balcony, providing not only access to the restaurant but also adding a large and attractive outdoor seated area. The construction was carried out by Deckor Timber of Harrogate using Southern Pine from sustainable US forests.
Colin Young of Deckor Timber said: “Treated Southern Pine is the perfect antidote to the British climate. We only use Southern Pine and we give a 75-year ‘lifetime’ guarantee against rot and decay. It is also stronger which again makes it ideal for outdoor construction projects such as the first floor balcony and stairs at Seiont Nurseries.”
Adam Hummel of Seiont Nurseries said: “One of the features of the mill is its attractive wooden beams and so the use of Southern Pine is entirely complementary.”
He added: “The construction took less than two weeks from start to finish and has helped bring back to life a fine old building. It was the perfect solution for our business.”
Eddie Pearce, European marketing director for American Softwoods, said: “Recent independent tests have proved that the physical properties of Southern Pine are superior to other softwoods from around the world.
“The softwood tests, carried out by TRADA Technology, the internationally recogised timber research authority, were for impact bending and surface hardness. The results show that Southern Pine is superior to softwoods from Chile, Brazil, New Zealand and Europe, and have finally proven that American Southern Pine is the strongest softwood with excellent resistance to indentation.”
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