MJ Maccardini (trailerfullofpix)'s photos with the keyword: 1776

The only known portrait of Dido Belle, showing her with her cousin and close companion, Lady Elizabeth Murray, at Kenwood in about 1776. Kenwood now displays a photographic reproduction while the original can be seen at Scone Palace. Read more about Dido at www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/women-in-history/dido-belle

Outside the House Mill, Three Mills Island. Grain was brought in through the door in the center, and the sacks were hauled up by rope to the floors above.

Looking north to the Olympic Park (the stadium and the Orbit Tower) from the top floor of the House Mill, Three Mills Island.

Mill stone in the House Mill, Three Mills Island.

Grain came down from the floor above through wooden chutes into the grist mills. Because the grain dust is highly flammable, all the moving pieces of the machinery in the mill were made of wood (metal parts would have caused sparks). The squatters thought these things were worthless and left them in the mill.

Grist mills in the House Mill, Three Mills Island.

Grist mills in the House Mill, Three Mills Island.

The top floor of the House Mill. Sacks of grain were hoisted up to this level. We had a great tour of the mill from bottom to top and back down again. Our docent Tony was fabulous.

Restoration on the House Mill began in 1989, using 18th century brick to restore the bomb damage to the 1776 facade. www.housemill.org.uk/trust_history.html

The facade of the House Mill sustained bomb damage during the blitz. It was later a squat for many years, and the squatters took away anything they could sell. Fortunately, the millstones and various wooden parts of the machinery were either too big to carry away or had no value as scrap, so the squatters left them behind.

The House Mill is Grade I listed and dates from 1776. It is the largest tidal mill in the world (the tide on the River Lee turned huge water wheels beneath the mill). It was in operation as a grain mill until 1941. www.housemill.org.uk/history_housemill.html

There have been mills on Three Mills Island since Saxon times, and the site was recorded in the Domesday Book (1086).