Mill The Great Power

The Great Power has not stolen its name: it is one of the largest mills in Belgium. It dates back to 1817 and served as an oil mill and grain mill until the First World War. In 1996 it was protected and since 2005 it has been operational again. Between May and September, you can visit it every second and fourth Saturday of the month.

The Great Power is one of the few remaining witnesses to an important industry: oil milling. In the 19th century, there were dozens of mills in the region of Kortrijk and Lille that pressed oil from linseed, rapeseed, and similar seeds. This is a very labor-intensive process, with many steps.

The seeds are first pre-ground into a kind of flour. This is then heated and placed in wool bags. The bags are then put back in a case made of woven horsehair and placed in a container. In between, a wedge is inserted, which is hammered into the container by a horse-driven mechanism. The pressure that is created this way squeezes the oil out of the flour.

That money could be made from oil milling is evident from the legacy of the founder of the Great Power: in 1847 he left behind one million francs - that would be about 5.5 million euros today.

The oil goes to factories that make soap, medicines, or paint from it, for example. From the second half of the 19th century, the oil mills transitioned from wind power to steam power.

The Great Power was heavily damaged at the end of the First World War and taken out of service.

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