First quotation from the mill 1773 (≈ 1773)
Mill mentioned in local archives.
1809
Construction of the dryer
Construction of the dryer 1809 (≈ 1809)
Add perpendicular to the main building.
1960
End of Paperwork Activity
End of Paperwork Activity 1960 (≈ 1960)
Production definitely discontinued.
1984
Registration Historic Monument
Registration Historic Monument 1984 (≈ 1984)
Protection of buildings and mechanisms.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Moulin, including the mechanism (Case ZA 344): entry by order of 5 December 1984
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character cited
The source text does not mention any names.
Origin and history
The Lagat mill, located in Saint-Martin-des-Olmes on the slopes of the Forez, is an exceptional testimony of the pre-industrial auvergne stationery. Cited in 1773, it operated thanks to Lagat Creek and illustrates an activity that continued despite the arrival of mechanization. Its buildings, built prior to the invention of the continuous machine, include a large three-level rectangular mill, mixing stone and planks, as well as a dryer added in 1809.
The site still retains remarkable technical elements today: a vertical metal hydraulic wheel with augets, transmissions, a metal press, a grille and the instruments of the dryer, all in place when the activity was stopped in 1960. These vestiges materialize the key steps in the artisanal manufacture of paper, from the preparation of fibres to drying. The mill, registered with the Historical Monuments in 1984, symbolizes the transition between traditional methods and the beginnings of industrialization in this region.
Representing a local economy rooted in the transformation of natural resources, the Lagat mill also reflects the social organization of the Forez valleys. Papermakers, often from specialized families, worked in small teams, combining craftsmanship and progressive technical innovations. The building thus embodies the resilience of a profession in the face of the technological upheavals of the 19th century, while at the same time demonstrating the central role of hydraulics in pre-industrial mountain activities.
