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Origin and history

The new mill of Espiet, located in the municipality of the same name in Gironde (Nouvelle-Aquitaine), is a fortified mill whose initial construction dates back to the 14th century, with traces of a Gallo-Roman apparatus visible at the east corner. It was entirely redesigned in the late 15th or early 16th century, adopting a barlong plan (long rectangular) and defensive elements such as mâchicoulis balconies, prominent foothills and murderers. A vertical wheel of 5 metres in diameter, now extinct, operated two pairs of wheels still in place, used until 1950. For centuries, the mill belonged to the Abbey of La Sauve-Majeure, as evidenced by the crosses carved on the north and south facades, serving as an antifix. These crosses, along with archives mentioning the confirmation of the possession of the Church of Our Lady of Hope at the Abbey by Archbishop Amat at the end of the 11th century, suggest this historical link.

The site, hidden in a narrow valley lined with rocks and wood, was protected by remarkable defensive devices. The north gate, defended by a muscharaby accessible from the first floor, was framed by foothills and a mâchicouli balcony. Inside, a central stone pillar supported floors and roofing, while protruding latrines and narrow corridors reinforced its fortified character. Leo Drouyn, in his 19th century description, highlights the harmony between the mill and its natural environment, as well as the hospitality of its then owner, Mr. Fayet. The mill was listed as historic monuments by order of 7 January 1926, recognizing its heritage value.

The new mill of Espiet illustrates the adaptation of medieval mills to both economic (meunery) and defensive functions. Its hydraulic system, although extinct, testifies to the engineering of the time, with a waterfall of 4 meters and a mechanism that lasted until the middle of the 20th century. Close by, another 14th century mill, the Battant Mill, shares a similar history, although less well preserved. These buildings reflect the importance of mills in the local economy, often linked to seigneuries or, as here, to a powerful abbey. Their hybrid architecture – both utility and military – reveals the tensions and needs of rural communities between the Middle Ages and the modern era.

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