Built in 1539, it is one of the oldest paper mills in the department of Charente and the last in operation. Located in the Vallée des Eaux-Claires in the commune of Puymoyen south of Angoulême, the Moulin du Verger has been chosen as one of the 101 sites in the heritage lottery.
Led by host Stéphane Bern, the heritage lottery was created to finance projects to restore French monuments deemed to be in danger. In 2019, it has raised nearly 25 million euros. This year, the proceeds will go to 18 priority projects and 101 projects throughout France, the list of which was unveiled at the beginning of September.
A traditional paper mill
The mill houses a paper mill that produces all kinds of graphic papers, some of which are printed on site. The workshop includes several machines, including a pedal press, a manual inking proof press, an 80x120 lithographic press and an intaglio press.
Traditional techniques are used to produce papers for luxury editions and also for the restoration of old books, dating from the 14th century e at 19 e century.
Work to consolidate the banks
The work projects are aimed at consolidating the banks and dismantling and restoring the turbine. But the most urgent one is the roof, reports France 3 New Aquitaine . The mill is registered in the inventory of historical monuments in 1991, under the industrial architecture of the 17 e century, which protects it, but which also includes an additional cost of 100?000 euros for its renovation, the information site says.
