Crumbling stones whisper tales of industry. Before you stand the remnants of the Sulby Starch Mill Stones. This wasn’t just any mill. It was a vital part of the Isle of Man’s history a testament to ingenuity and enterprise.
Initially the site housed a flax mill. Then a woollen mill operated there from 1831. Thomas Southward a local entrepreneur leased it. He later expanded his operations building a second mill down the valley.
In 1846 a Manchester company bought the property. They transformed it into the Sulby Glen Starch Works. They were remarkably efficient. Even in the incomplete state of the building they could process thirty tons of potatoes daily. The mill became a significant local employer.
The company was initially a partnership between Thomas Stott and Nathaniel Lloyd. They faced a setback when fire damaged the mill in 1850. Fortunately they were insured. They rebuilt. The partnership dissolved in 1850. Stott continued the business. He even supplied Queen Victoria with his starch. This popular product was sold throughout Britain.
Later George Hall took over management. He expanded the operations. He also diversified. The mill produced cornflour. The residue was sold as pig feed. Flooding in 1862 caused damage. Hall eventually sold the business. The mill changed hands several times. It produced cornflour for a time. It closed at the turn of the century.
The mill buildings remained unused for many years. They fell into disrepair. In 1896 the Southwards repurposed part of the mill. The site later became a water filtration plant. It served this purpose until the 2000s. The site was then sold and renovated for residential use.
Today only remnants of this once thriving enterprise remain. Yet these Sulby Starch Mill Stones still stand. They serve as a reminder of the Isle of Man’s rich industrial past. A past built on innovation and hard work. A past that shaped the island we know today.