Quay Mills, Exeter
1824 Mill erected by J. A. Ratcliffe
1871 Disastrous fire. Owners are Charles Fry and Co.[1]
1888 'These were also used fulling mills, and had three narrow water-wheels. In the first quarter of this century the late "Joseph Radcliff," who had occupied one portion of the Head Weir Mills in this city, obtained a lease from the Mayor and Chamber of Exon of these mills. He changed the large one from fulling mills to flour mills, putting a very wide wheel, intending only to erect one wheel with necessary machinery. But the terms of the lease (as I credibly informed) set out that the entire property was what is, now known as the large mil and little mill. He therefore, much against his will, had to put up the little mill, with its waterwheel and machinery. It was, however, a useless waste of money, the large water-wheel absorbed all the available quantity of water, and the little mill was very seldom used. I well remember the floors of this little mill collapsing, and the thrusting out of the side walls through being overloaded with grain about 1844; it being used principally as a grain store. These mills are now used for the purpose of grinding and bleaching "sulphate of baryta." '[2]