Millennium Mill, Docklands, London



Architect

Date Built
1930s
Location
Royal Victoria Dock
Description
This derelict former mill in London's Dockland was once home to "Spillers", the pet food manufacturer.  The original Millennium Mill was built in the 1905 by the millers William Vernon and Sons from Birkenhead.  At that time a number of flour mills were constructed around the Royal Victoria Dock including ones owned by the Cooperative Wholesale Society and Joseph Rank.  The Millennium Mill was described by its owners as "palatial".  It was named after Vernon's most successful product known as Millennium Flour. 



The mills clustered around the Royal Docks were badly damaged by a huge explosion at a munitions factory in 1917.  Three years later Spillers took over Vernon's and they acquired the Millennium Mill changing the production from flour to dog food and other animal feeds.  In 1933 the mill was rebuilt as a ten-storey concrete Art Deco building.  However, that wasn't the end of the story because the building was once again severely damaged during the London Blitz and again rebuilt.



The building has been empty and decaying since the 1980s.  There have been proposals for redevelopment but so far none have come to fruition.  It hasn't achieved a national listed status but the local Newham Council has included it on its list of buildings.

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