History

Gages Mill is an ancient Woollen Mill, with the earliest mention being of GAGYS MYLL in the ministers accounts of Henry V11 in 1504, (although it was said to be more than a century old at this time). The tenants at that time were given as Gilbert Youker, John Brendon and John Rugge. Tenants were usually bound to repair the mills at their own expense, the Lord of the Manor finding the timber only. Various versions of the name in old articles include "Gagsmill" and "Gaysmill". The name is most likely to be derived from "Gig-Mill", a gig being a device in which teasels were arranged on a cylinder which revolved with the teasel in contact with the face of the cloth. The teasel appears in the town crest of Ashburton

For at least part of its life it was the Manorial Fulling Mill, which means that the cloth, having been woven, was then cleansed of its grease by the use of Fullers Earth. It was then soaked in water, drained and beaten with large wooden flails to compact and felt the material. In the latter part of its operational life it was a "Flock Mill", making mattresses from inferior and waste wool.   By 1504 water driven mechanical aid was available for the beating process. The Mill derived its power from a Leat taken out of the river Ashburn above Castle Bridge (by Peartree). The leat is long gone, with little evidence of its path visible. There is some indication of its route in fields opposite Gages Mill, and along the Mills frontage. A small section can be seen from the hallway and dining room windows, where it would have left the mill, having probably driven an "Undershot" wheel to operate the machinery. The ground floor twin room now occupies the area where the wheel would have been. After the demise of the wool industry in the area, Gages Mill became a private residence. The Tucker family, who were well known Solicitors and Attorneys in the town, lived at Gages in the 1850's, while a John Smerdon was in residence in 1893. In the early 1900's there were a number of families living in the building. In the mid 1950's the Tope family took it over and started a small factory making special pens for plotting equipment, known as Gages Instruments. They left in 1968 as the firm needed to expand. They are now one of the two largest companies in the world producing these pens and other scientific instruments. The mill remained as a private dwelling until 1972, during which time a deep bore was sunk for its water supply, and is still in use to this day. From that period on it has been a Guest House. It has gone through various stages of conversion, but always retained much of its original character and past history.