Banmolens

Copyright: Creative Commons

The site’s current appearance largely dates from the 19th century, but the Banmolens (thirlage mills) have a much longer history: it is likely there were already water mills at this location one thousand years ago. The site was listed as a monument in 1998. It is now home to loft apartments and a cafeteria.

A banmolen or thirlage mill is a medieval concept. It refers to mills owned by the count of Flanders. Everyone living within a five-kilometre radius of the mill is obliged to bring their grain to this mill to be ground. This enables the count to take a tenth part of the harvest as tax.

The buildings maintain their appearance as typical water mills until the mid-19th century. The site is altered greatly during the Industrial Revolution. Around 1850 the arm of the River Lys is bridged and the site receives its current six-floor appearance. The keystone of the bridge still bears the year ‘1849’.

The Banmolens are especially interesting because they show the transition from a typical mill complex to an industrial building. The first steam engine is introduced in 1850; the square chimney also dates from that time. The water wheels nevertheless remain operational, even though they are replaced by a much more efficient water turbine in 1880.

The site has had many functions over the centuries: flour mill, oil mill, fulling mill … It is even home to a soap powder factory in the interwar period. The buildings are listed as a monument in 1998, and renovated and divided into loft apartments in 2003.

Source

Copyright: Creative Commons

More information

Comments Statistics

BE | | Public | DutchFrenchGerman

Address

Watermolenstraat 36, Harelbeke

Advertisement

Things to do in surrounding

Harelbeke

Search

Harelbeke

Choose from more than 40 activities:

Route search

- RouteYou Selections -

Harelbeke

Discover the most beautiful and popular trails in the area, carefully bundled into appropriate selections.

Copyright: Creative Commons

Sights nearby

Harelbeke

- RouteYou Selections -

Harelbeke

Discover the most beautiful and popular attractions in the area, carefully bundled in appropriate selections.

Destinations close by

Harelbeke

Copyright: Creative Commons

Plan your route

With RouteYou, it's easy to create your own customised maps. Simply plot your route, add waypoints or nodes, add places of interest and places to eat and drink, and then easily share it with your family and friends.

Route planner

Route planner

This place of interest on your website

<iframe src="https://plugin.routeyou.com/poiviewer/free/?language=en&amp;params.poi.id=7464366" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Try this feature for free with a RouteYou Plus trial subscription.

If you already have such an account, then log in now.


More than 8,500,000 routes


More than 15,000,000 users


More than 4,200,000 points of interest

Address

Kerkstraat 108

9050 Gentbrugge, Belgium

Follow us

Download the free app

Contact

Marketing & sales

sales@routeyou.com

General queries

info@routeyou.com

© 2006-2024 RouteYou - www.routeyou.com