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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Passe-Arrière mill is a water mill located on a canalized arm of the Somme, the arm of the Clairons, in Amiens. Certified since the Middle Ages, it was used to grind wheat alongside the more powerful Passe-Advance mill. Its name comes from its lower priority for water use. Owned by the cathedral chapter, it was declared national during the French Revolution and sold to an individual. The current building, dating from the late 17th or early 18th century, retains two wheels with blades, although few of its original mechanisms remain.

The mill is extended by old workshops, a characteristic of the industrial activity of the Saint-Leu district in the late 18th or early 19th century. The current mechanism dates from the 19th century. Ranked a historical monument by decree of 27 July 1987, it is today a private property. The archives mention its partial demolition in 1669, then its reconstruction, as well as its use as a nickel plant in 1933. Purchased by the city in 1984, it was damaged by a fire.

Historical sources indicate that the mill belonged to individuals in the 19th century, such as Grignier Lefebvre (1842-1859) and M. Voiturier (1899). By 1850, it had four vertical hydraulic wheels, now reduced to two metal wheels. Its history is linked to that of the Saint-Leu district, marked by strong artisanal and industrial activity, especially around mills and manufacturing workshops.

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