City and West Street Mills, Exeter

1888 'City and West-street Mills, immediately adjoining the Westgate quarter, and on the south-east side of the entrance into the west-gate of the city. These were anciently used as fulling mills when the woollen manufacture was a flourishing trade in this city. The water-power here was originally divided into four separate and equal portions and severally used upon four water-wheels, for operating eight pairs of fulling mills or stocks. The western of the four water-wheels was changed in or about the second decade of this century from that of fulling mill to a grist mill. The three water-wheels were used as fulling or tucking mills long since my collection, but were afterwards changed into use wood-turning and sawing mills. They are now used for the manufacture of flour, but were sold by the Mayor and Chamber of Exon, as far as I can ascertain, in the early part of the 18th century to the woollen merchants.'

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