Construction of Dupin Mill 1ère moitié du XIXe siècle (≈ 1865)
Mill attested on the cadastre of 1837.
1874
Processing into starch
Processing into starch 1874 (≈ 1874)
Expansion and installation of mechanisms.
Années 1960
Abandonment of the site
Abandonment of the site Années 1960 (≈ 1960)
End of industrial activity.
31 décembre 1996
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 31 décembre 1996 (≈ 1996)
Protection of buildings and mechanisms.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Fecule comprising the various manufacturing buildings with their installations and mechanisms, as well as the hydraulic system (see box). A 630-634): registration by order of 31 December 1996
Key figures
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The source text does not mention any names.
Origin and history
The Dupin starch mill, located in Beurières in the Puy-de-Dôme, originates in an old mill built in the first half of the 19th century, attested on the cadastre of 1837 but absent from the map of Cassini. This mill, called Dupin mill, was powered by a hydraulic system (derivation and water retention) still visible today. Its granite bellow foundations and superstructures in pise and wood claying reflect local rural construction techniques.
Around 1874, the site was transformed into a starch factory specializing in potato starch production, an emblematic activity of Livradois. New buildings were erected at that time: a summer dryer (with granite solin), a winter dryer, a pise house, and a shed. Industrial mechanisms — washing, grinding, sieving and blushing machines — are preserved in situ, reflecting the artisanal manufacturing process. The site, abandoned in the 1960s, was classified as a Historic Monument in 1996 for its architecture and intact hydraulic system.
Architecturally, the starch factory is distinguished by its wooden window frames, its visible stone base, and a genoise (overhanging roof) on the eastern part, inherited from the old mill. These elements, combined with the original water diversion, make it a rare example of rural industrial heritage linked to the 19th century agri-food economy in Auvergne. The site, although closed to visit, remains a marker of the region's artisanal history.
