The Old Mill

Back in the early day there were several sawmills in  Heart’s Delight – Islington.

The very first ones were powered by water. The rivers were damned and chutes were constructed high above the river to bring water to the mill. Huge wheels called water wheels turned slowly but were geared up to shafts and homemade pulleys in such away as to create a transmission to turn the saws and other equipment at high speeds.

The sawmill in the painting belonged to the Reid’s of Heart’s Delight and was located on the Main Brook river in the center of town, other sawmill owners were Harnum’s, Welsh’s and Bishop’s.