Flour Mills, Battersea

Watercolour painting by Ethel Woolmer depicting Flour Mills, Battersea. 1905

This watercolour depict a scene happening outside the Flour Mills at Battersea The imposing silhouette of the Flour Mills, its main building, rendered in ochres and warm browns, looms large against a pale sky with its tiered gables and tall, crenelated tower with its battlement-like top. The mill’s layered roofs and chimneys fade in to the distance.

In the foreground, a stretch of green occupies the lower portion of the composition, its grassy surface broken by patches of bare earth. Two figures, dressed in white, move across this space, bent slightly under the weight of sacks slung over their shoulders. Their presence is dwarfed by the imposing buildings.

To the right, two large horse-drawn carts rest near the mill, their massive wheels painted in vivid red tones. The carts, draped in protective coverings with horses, barely visible beneath the coverings speak of the work of the Mills.

Bare trees rise on the left, their spindly branches etched against the soft sky, suggesting late autumn or early winter. The light is diffuse, almost surrounding the scene with a foggy quality.

Battersea’s location on the Thames made it ideal for flour milling during the Victorian and Edwardian periods, as river transport facilitated grain imports. The industry shifted from traditional stone milling to roller milling in the late 19th century, marking a technological revolution in flour production.

Battersea Flour Mills was built in 1884 by the Mayhew family. It became a significant industrial site on the Thames, powered by electricity and steam. In 1913, the mill was purchased by Joseph Rank Ltd, one of Britain’s largest milling companies, and later modernized. By 1970, the mill was remodelled by Henry Simon to produce 10 tonnes of white bread-making flour per hour, using advanced roller milling technology. Wheat was sourced mainly from the UK, supplemented by North American imports brought by barge from Tilbury docks. Due to rising land values and environmental pressures, the mill ceased production in 1995 and was demolished in 1998, replaced by residential developments.