| p>Can I now tell the tale of our mill which has | | | | holiday cottage in this region of France known as the |
| become a holiday retreat hidden in the French | | | | Limousin. |
| countryside. Now I am relating one of a number of | | | | Now going towards the East there is the Massive |
| articles relating the story of and portraying the | | | | Central which is a mountainous sector now famous |
| environs of Le Moulin de Pont de Chez Lord, France | | | | for winter sports. Turning now towards the west a |
| 23430. | | | | short journey brings one to Limoges, renowned for |
| When the watermill was constructed the Limousin | | | | its porcelain works and going further still the beautiful |
| part of central France was ruled by English forces. | | | | town of La Rochelle the largest coastal resort in the |
| The mill was built in around the year 1271 and the | | | | Bay of Biscay. This very interesting resort is now |
| regional commander of the garrison lived in a house | | | | also a holiday resort and an important center for |
| alongside a bridge over the river Beraude. Since he | | | | yachting. |
| was a member of the English aristocracy the area | | | | This part known as the Limousin is a relatively new |
| became known as Le Pont de Chez Lord which | | | | one on the tourist itinerary as it was for many years |
| means literally ---- The Bridge by the House of the | | | | a mainly French holiday region however it is becoming |
| Lord. | | | | well known. It is a locale of grasslands, hills and |
| Le Moulin de Chez Lord (which means The Mill of the | | | | valleys with many beautiful small villages nestled in |
| House of the Lord) was constructed close by the | | | | the hillsides. The neighborhood contains dozens of |
| house of the English milord. It was required to | | | | lakes in the many valleys which makes for |
| prepare the flour to make bread to feed the military | | | | exceptional scenery. |
| and also to mill the oats for the horses. It is not | | | | Most rural sports are easily accessible. Particularly |
| generally known that the potato did not exist in | | | | important amongst these are the stimulating walks of |
| France until very roughly 1450. Thus the construction | | | | every rank of exertion thus suiting all abilities and |
| of the mill was long before the arrival in Europe of | | | | levels of interest. |
| the potato and bread was a very substantial part of | | | | The historic mill is 700 years of age, and was |
| the diet. The mill had been in use for 300 years | | | | constructed to grind wheat flour for English military |
| before the potato first arrived from South America | | | | who were garrisoned here to maintain the English |
| and eventually became a part of the European meal. | | | | commercial interests based in Bordeaux. The watermill |
| This is why for any semi-permanent garrison it was | | | | is sitting in a valley and includes 10 hectares of |
| obligatory to have a trustworthy source of flour. | | | | meadows and woodland. The water mill lies at the |
| To get the era when the water mill was constructed | | | | end of a long drive which provides tranquility. |
| into some time scale, we should point out that it was | | | | The river Beraude and the mill race almost encircle |
| the thirteenth century, the time of Richard the | | | | the water mill and only a few yards from the house |
| Lionheart, who became King of England and Aquitaine | | | | is a waterfall which was the runoff for the mill pool. |
| the other side of Bordeaux in 1189. So the water mill | | | | The river flows through the property and forms a |
| was constructed in the era of the crusades and | | | | delightful island with several trees that is wonderful |
| Robin Hood in England. The story of King Richard and | | | | for relaxing on those very hot days because there |
| his involvement locally will be looked at at another | | | | always is a wind from the river. We also often have |
| time. | | | | parties and barbecues there on warm summer |
| In Europe this was the epoch of the start of The | | | | evenings. |
| Little Ice Age. The Thames in Londres froze over on | | | | The upstairs of the mill has now been converted into |
| some occasions and the Scandinavians withdraw | | | | two double bedrooms en suite and the on the |
| from their outposts in Iceland as the polar ice crept | | | | ground floor into a living area with kitchen, lounge etc. |
| south. The sun was less active and the our planet | | | | There is a shaded patio by the waterfall which is ideal |
| suffered this Little Ice Age that persisted for about | | | | for al fresco dining or for enjoying a bottle during |
| five centuries finishing in the middle of the nineteenth | | | | summer afternoons. |
| century. Crops failed regularly throughout this era ... | | | | Since we are lucky enough to live in the center of a |
| so much for NOW being a time of specific climatic | | | | most interesting region and in the wonderful |
| changes. Here in France the temperature was some | | | | countryside, we would like in the future to give you |
| 2 degrees below the current average so here at the | | | | reports in which we will continue to explore the |
| watermill in winter it was colder and no doubt wetter | | | | region and describe the abundant attractions of the |
| than now makes me feel sorry for former owners. | | | | region. |
| The water mill was in use until the 1980s when it | | | | Why not Google Earth us at Le Moulin Chez Lord, |
| milled animal meal. It has now been converted into a | | | | 23430 France and zoom on down and see us! |