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Huge dig uncovers mill on the Foss
THE remains of one of England's largest flour mills have been uncovered during the biggest archeological dig a Yorkshire city has seen for 25 years.
The Victorian building which once housed a massive steam engine used to power machinery has been discovered during the excavations in York.
While York is normally associated with the chocolate and railways industries, the remains of the flour mill have provided evidence of another facet in the city's history.
Standing on the banks of the River Foss in the city centre until the 1930s, Leetham's Flour Mill is thought to have been one of England's largest flour mills and archaeologists are now calling on the public to come forward with their memories of the site.
The excavations and research carried out by the York Archaeological Trust team have studied the remains of two mills in the Hungate area during the late 19th and early 20th centuries – a saw mill owned by William Bellerby and a flour mill owned by the Leetham family.
YAT field officer, Ian Milsted, who has been overseeing the excavations, said: "When people talk about industry in York it's usually in connection with confectionery or railways, but what we've uncovered at Hungate are remains relating to a company some believe to have been the second largest flour producer in Europe by the start of the 20th century.
"We'd love to hear from anyone who remembers either of the mills, who worked there, lived in the area or knows somebody who did. "
The excavations are being carried out ahead of the 150m Hungate development, and it is the biggest archaeological dig in the city since Coppergate in the 1970s and early 1980s which saw the creation of the Jorvik Viking Centre to house the finds.
Anyone with memories of the flour mill can attend a 3pm event during an archaeology study day at the Hungate dig on Saturday, or contact the YAT on 01904 663000.
To sign up to the full study day, contact the Greater York Community Archaeology Project's community archaeologist, Jon Kenny, on 01904 663020.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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