Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...

Brda river The Brda (; german: Brahe) is a river in northern Poland, a tributary of the Vistula. It has a total length of 245 km and a catchment area (all within Poland) of 4,665 km2.Brda river The Brda (; german: Brahe) is a river in northern Poland, a tributary of the Vistula. It has a total length of 245 km and a catchment area (all within Poland) of 4,665 km2.Old Market, in

Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

Old Town. Only one road runs through the island, Mennica Street, whose name derives from Polish ''mennica'' 'mint': a royal mint demolished in the 19th century operated there from 1594 to 1688. Mennica street connects the Old Market to the mills on the island, and extends to Foch Street, running along the causeway connecting Mill Island with water locks.

Characteristics

Mill Island is one of the most beautiful scenic spots in

Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

, thanks to its picturesque features: long waterfronts,

locks Lock(s) may refer to: Common meanings *Lock and key, a mechanical device used to secure items of importance *Lock (water navigation), a device for boats to transit between different levels of water, as in a canal Arts and entertainment * ''Lock ...

and

dam A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, a ...

s, canal waterfall, greenery and buildings frontages on waterfront (nicknamed "Venice of Bydgoszcz"). Its location in the Old Town district is a symbol of the close symbiosis between

Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

city and the river-and-canals network, the ''Bydgoszcz Floodway'' ( "Bydgoszcz Węzeł Wodny" connecting

Vistula The Vistula (; pl, Wisła, ) is the longest river in Poland and the ninth-longest river in Europe, at in length. The drainage basin, reaching into three other nations, covers , of which is in Poland. The Vistula rises at Barania Góra in ...

and

Oder The Oder ( , ; Czech, Lower Sorbian and ; ) is a river in Central Europe. It is Poland's second-longest river in total length and third-longest within its borders after the Vistula and Warta. The Oder rises in the Czech Republic and flows thr ...

rivers. Nowadays, the island is a recreation and culture place, thanks to the presence of numerous museums and the proximity of city Opera ("Opera Nova"). Island intersected two

canal Canals or artificial waterways are waterways or engineered channels built for drainage management (e.g. flood control and irrigation) or for conveyancing water transport vehicles (e.g. water taxi). They carry free, calm surface flow un ...

s: * The "Międzywodzie (''between waters'') kanal", a historic watercourse, renovated in 2007; * The "Grain channel", west of Rother's Mills, pierced in the 18th century. The leat river flows around the island and joins

Brda river The Brda (; german: Brahe) is a river in northern Poland, a tributary of the Vistula. It has a total length of 245 km and a catchment area (all within Poland) of 4,665 km2.weir A weir or low head dam is a barrier across the width of a river that alters the flow characteristics of water and usually results in a change in the height of the river level. Weirs are also used to control the flow of water for outlets of l ...

s, "Jaz Farny" and "Jaz Ulgowy", and a

fish ladder A fish ladder, also known as a fishway, fish pass, fish steps, or fish cannon is a structure on or around artificial and natural barriers (such as dams, locks and waterfalls) to facilitate diadromous fishes' natural migration as well as movemen ...

. Today, the island is connected to the rest of the city with pedestrian bridges and one bridge for vehicles. A meadow stands in the middle of the island, with an

amphitheatre An amphitheatre (British English) or amphitheater (American English; both ) is an open-air venue used for entertainment, performances, and sports. The term derives from the ancient Greek ('), from ('), meaning "on both sides" or "around" and ...

facing the river and a playground for children. In the east, the "Międzywodzie kanal" makes delimitation with the so-called "Mint Island", home to several facilities of the District Museum: * The "White Granary", with its Gothic cross-vaulted cellar from the 15th century holds archaeological collections; * A house from the late 18th or early 19th century housed the "European Money Centre", with exhibitions relating to

Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

's mint and money in Europe; * The "Red Granary" holds a Gallery of Modern Art with a former miller's house as its reception and information center; * Leon Wyczolkowski's house in the central part of the island exhibits the achievements of the artist. A

dike Dyke (UK) or dike (US) may refer to: General uses * Dyke (slang), a slang word meaning "lesbian" * Dike (geology), a subvertical sheet-like intrusion of magma or sediment * Dike (mythology), ''Dikē'', the Greek goddess of moral justice * Dikes, ...

separates the north-western part of the Mill Island from

Brda river The Brda (; german: Brahe) is a river in northern Poland, a tributary of the Vistula. It has a total length of 245 km and a catchment area (all within Poland) of 4,665 km2.amphitheater An amphitheatre (British English) or amphitheater (American English; both ) is an open-air venue used for entertainment, performances, and sports. The term derives from the ancient Greek ('), from ('), meaning "on both sides" or "around" and ...

, used to for outdoor performances. On Mill Island, a pedestal carrying an earthly globe identifies the 18° East

Meridian Meridian or a meridian line (from Latin ''meridies'' via Old French ''meridiane'', meaning “midday”) may refer to Science * Meridian (astronomy), imaginary circle in a plane perpendicular to the planes of the celestial equator and horizon * ...

, which crosses the neighboring Old Market. Near the waterfront is a 700 m² sandy area filled with sea sand coming from Miedzyzdroje. Every year in June, takes place there Bydgoszcz's Water Festival, aiming at popularizing E70 waterway and inland waterways tourism. Mill Island 1876 v2

History

Historically, the island comprised three earth lands: * The ''Northern island'', dismantled with the construction of

Bydgoszcz Canal , original_owner = , engineer = Franz von Brenkenhoff , date_began = 1773 , date_use = 14 June 1774 , date_completed = 1775 , date_extended = 1904 , date_closed = , date_restored = , len_ft = , len_in = , ...

in 1772-1774; * The ''Western island'', now the central part of current Mill Island; * The ''Eastern (mint) island'', where was established in 1594 one of the most important mint house in the early modern era of Poland, coins from Bydgoszcz mint being known all over Europe. The "Eastern island" and western part of "Międzywodzie kanal" have been buried during the 1960s and recreated in the form of a cascade in 2007.

Old Polish Period (until the mid-18th century)

For several centuries, the Mill Island was part of royal domain, hence its old Polish name "Royal Island" (''Wyspa Królewska''), or sometimes "Okole". Actual name ''Mill Island'' comes from several mills that were built on the island since the 14th century, which gained a peak of activityin the 19th century. Rekonstrukcja planu Bydgoszczy z XVI-XVII w

Rekonstrukcja planu Bydgoszczy z XVI-XVII w

In the Middle Ages, first mills appeared on the eastern part of the island. At the end of the 14th century, for economical and military defense purposes, water network in the western Old Town was improved, so as to take advantage of Brda river first

weir A weir or low head dam is a barrier across the width of a river that alters the flow characteristics of water and usually results in a change in the height of the river level. Weirs are also used to control the flow of water for outlets of l ...

, ''Jaz Farny'' (literally "Parish weir"), has been created, along with a lock and a navigable channel which is today the actual riverbed of

Brda river The Brda (; german: Brahe) is a river in northern Poland, a tributary of the Vistula. It has a total length of 245 km and a catchment area (all within Poland) of 4,665 km2.starosta The starosta or starost (Cyrillic: ''старост/а'', Latin: ''capitaneus'', german: link=no, Starost, Hauptmann) is a term of Slavic origin denoting a community elder whose role was to administer the assets of a clan or family estates. Th ...

, were standing at the junction of the "Międzywodzie kanal" and the leat channel. In 1541, several large five-wheel driven mills and a

sawmill A sawmill (saw mill, saw-mill) or lumber mill is a facility where logs are cut into lumber. Modern sawmills use a motorized saw to cut logs lengthwise to make long pieces, and crosswise to length depending on standard or custom sizes (dimensi ...

were working on the island. In addition to corn and malt mills, there were also fulling mills for wool cleansing and leather tanning. The western Island, less built, was occupied by gardens. In 1594, on the eastern island has been established the Bydgoszcz Mint, propriety of king

Sigismund III Vasa Sigismund III Vasa ( pl, Zygmunt III Waza, lt, Žygimantas Vaza; 20 June 1566 – 30 April 1632 N.S.) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1587 to 1632 and, as Sigismund, King of Sweden and Grand Duke of Finland from 1592 to ...

. His favourite, Stanisław Cikowski, opened there a private mint, which turned into a royal mint in the early 17th century.

Prussian period (1772-1920)

The most significant transformation of the island dates back to the construction of the

Bydgoszcz Canal , original_owner = , engineer = Franz von Brenkenhoff , date_began = 1773 , date_use = 14 June 1774 , date_completed = 1775 , date_extended = 1904 , date_closed = , date_restored = , len_ft = , len_in = , ...

. In 1774, in the area of the mint house, was built the largest watermill called "Hercules" (nicknamed "Henryk" from 1828). The last remaining building in Mennica Street (at no. 4) was a tannery, established in 1760 south of the sawmill, and in 1789 were built half-timbered granaries called the White Granary. In addition to industrial and warehouse buildings, residential buildings appeared, like the Miller's House (at Mennica St. no. 8) in 1772 or the Administration mills building (no. 6) in the end of the 18th century). To ease the management of cereals between military warehouses on left bank of Brda river and the island, was built in 1789 the "Warehouse bridge" (now at the level of the pedestrian bridge to Opera Nova). Between 1815 and 1825, Prussians authorities under the leadership of attorney Koplin, started the reconstruction of the island. They piled the

dike Dyke (UK) or dike (US) may refer to: General uses * Dyke (slang), a slang word meaning "lesbian" * Dike (geology), a subvertical sheet-like intrusion of magma or sediment * Dike (mythology), ''Dikē'', the Greek goddess of moral justice * Dikes, ...

linking the island to Focha Street, built a complex of mills, barns (including the predecessor of the Red Granary) and residential buildings, in particular using the foundations of the former mint house. On the northern edge of the island were built "Rudolf and Wilhelm Mills" (now Bydgoszcz hydroelectric power station "Kujawska"), a brick coach-house and storage facilities. In 1816 was built a wooden bridge, the Mill Bridge, connecting to the

Old Market Square The Old Market Square (Slab Square) is an open, pedestrianised city square in Nottingham, England, forming the heart of the city, and covering an area of approximately , or about 3 acres. It is one of the largest paved squares in the United K ...

(now Ku Młynom Street). In 1825, all facilities on Mill Island were taken over by a consortium, comprising, among others, the Schickler brothers from

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...

. These brothers owned also in

Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

, raised on the grounds of the former castle, a sugar refinery (now the local seat of PZU insurance company at Grodzka St.25). The Schicklers' set up in 1826 Bydgoszcz Mills Company "Hercules", producing not only the local market but also exporting to Germany, Great Britain, and even Brazil. "Hercules" facilities processed cereals imported by water from the whole Polish Kingdom. The mills were also equipped with a

waterwheels A water wheel is a machine for converting the energy of flowing or falling water into useful forms of power, often in a watermill. A water wheel consists of a wheel (usually constructed from wood or metal), with a number of blades or buckets ...

-driven sawmill. Wenecja Bydgoska stara pocztówka

In 1842, the consortium took over Prussian owned facilities: in 1846 Royal Mills pioneered the first steam engine in Bydgoszcz. In 1848 and 1849, the old mills were demolished, and in its place were built a large mill complex, now known as the Rother's Mills: they were the largest mills in

Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

in the second half of the 19th century and were supported by smaller ones throughout

Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

, like "Kentzer Mills", now hotel "Słoneczny Młyn". In 1859, "Henryk" watermill was demolished, giving place to a steam mill "Camphausa" (the current Red Barn). In 1899, a residential villa was built on the island for members of the board mills (at Minneca no. 7), now Leon Wyczolkowski's house. At the turn of the 20th century, the transition from water power mills to steam and electricity industrial buildings on the island was almost complete. In addition, the period from 1870 to 1914 was the time of creation of "Bydgoszcz Venice", an architectural ensemble of tenements built along the leat canal of the river from the east, south and west. Those picturesque buildings down to the foot of the river became a tourist attraction and inspiration for artists.

Interwar period (1920-1930)

During

interwar years In the history of the 20th century, the interwar period lasted from 11 November 1918 to 1 September 1939 (20 years, 9 months, 21 days), the end of the First World War to the beginning of the Second World War. The interwar period was relativel ...

, slight changes were brought to the island settlements. In 1936, a

marina A marina (from Spanish , Portuguese and Italian : ''marina'', "coast" or "shore") is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats. A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships o ...

for the Military Sports Club was created: demolished in 2011, it has been reconstructed in a new form a year later. In 1934, the "Warehouse bridge" connecting military warehouses to the city was demolished, due to the bend expansion of the

Brda river The Brda (; german: Brahe) is a river in northern Poland, a tributary of the Vistula. It has a total length of 245 km and a catchment area (all within Poland) of 4,665 km2.World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, all milling facilities on the island became property of the "Grain and Mills State Enterprises". Marina was expanded to the benefit of WKS "Zawisza" Sports Club and water police station in the area of the White Granary. In 1964 the Mill Bridge was rebuilt in the current form. At the end of the 1960s, two water ways were filled in, the "Międzywodzie kanal" and the Grain Channel (partly) allowing the island to be merged into one. In 1978 on the island has been placed a

MiG-15 The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 (russian: Микоя́н и Гуре́вич МиГ-15; USAF/DoD designation: Type 14; NATO reporting name: Fagot) is a jet fighter aircraft developed by Mikoyan-Gurevich for the Soviet Union. The MiG-15 was one of ...

, as a monument, which stood here a few months. In the 1980s, an artillery canon has been also placed here. First revitalization plans for Mill Island in the 1970s were aimed to transform mill installations into museums. In the 1990s mills were sold to private investors, and the remaining facilities were transferred to the ownership of "Leon Wyczółkowski" District Museum in Bydgoszcz. Revitalization of Mill Island came to completion only after 2004, once received specific funds

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...

and

European Economic Area The European Economic Area (EEA) was established via the ''Agreement on the European Economic Area'', an international agreement which enables the extension of the European Union's single market to member states of the European Free Trade Ass ...

. Comprehensive work has been done from 2006 to 2010, with the erection in 2012 of a new water

marina A marina (from Spanish , Portuguese and Italian : ''marina'', "coast" or "shore") is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats. A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships o ...

in place of the existing WKS "Zawisza" one. In 2022, Rother's Mills ensemble has been transformed into an exhibition area. Furthermore, since June 2, 2022, the city of Bydgoszcz has been putting Józef Makowski's sculptures into display on the northern waterfront of the island. These stone fishes statues used to stand in the 1950s, in a pool to replace the downtown monumental fountain "

The Deluge The Genesis flood narrative (chapters 6–9 of the Book of Genesis) is the Hebrew version of the universal flood myth. It tells of God's decision to return the universe to its pre- creation state of watery chaos and remake it through the microc ...

" ( pl, Potop), melted down by German forces in 1942. File:Bdg BialySpichrz 11 07-2013.jpg, The White Granary. File:Bdg WenecjaB w 3 07-2013.jpg, "Bydgoszcz Venice". File:WM Bydg 05-2012i.jpg, The administrative building of the mills. File:Bdg CzerwSpichlerz 9 07-2013.jpg, The Red granary. File:Fish mill ISland.jpg, Józef Makowski's fish statue File:Bydgoszcz, Wyspa Młyńska - fotopolska.eu (330820).jpg, Grass esplanade on the island. File:Bdg Mlynowka 1 10-2013.jpg, Leat river branch.

Buildings

Mill Island has been listed between 1985 and 1995 on the Polish Register of Historical Monuments under no. A/878, June 15, 1985 (mill buildings) and no. A/773/1-9, June 6, 1992. Elements noticed in the heritage article: * historical character of the spatial arrangement, * old trees, * a monumental complex of mills and grain storehouses along with free-standing buildings surrounded by greenery. Most listed buildings are located on the former coinage island. From the original 17th-century mint building there still can be seen foundations and basement vaults.

Historical granaries

The White Granary

Located in the eastern part of Mill Island, on the banks of the

Brda river The Brda (; german: Brahe) is a river in northern Poland, a tributary of the Vistula. It has a total length of 245 km and a catchment area (all within Poland) of 4,665 km2.weir A weir or low head dam is a barrier across the width of a river that alters the flow characteristics of water and usually results in a change in the height of the river level. Weirs are also used to control the flow of water for outlets of l ...

, it is the oldest preserved building in the Island. It was built in the 1790s in connection with the emergence of new grain mills in the northern part of the Mill Island. Till 1827, it was owned by the Kingdom of Prussia, then bought by Padecker, a merchant. Since then, its successors are companies. It was not until 1919 that it became the property of local governments, and then of the Polish state treasury. The facility was used till 1974 as a grain warehouse. Since the 1980s, the building houses the history department of "Leon Wyczółkowski" District Museum: here is mainly exhibited

Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

's history and craft traditions in

Kujawy Kuyavia ( pl, Kujawy; german: Kujawien; la, Cuiavia), also referred to as Cuyavia, is a historical region in north-central Poland, situated on the left bank of Vistula, as well as east from Noteć River and Lake Gopło. It is divided into three t ...

. From 2006 to 2008, the building was extensively renovated under the program "Restoration of cultural heritage on Mill Island" and fitted for exhibiting archaeological collections. It has one storey with an attic, an elongated rectangle footprint and covered with a gable roof. It is a half-timbered construction. Worth noticing are: * a

Gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...

cellar from the 15th century with cross vaults supported by massive brick pillars; * a preserved original single-space interior layout, with wooden poles (now integrated in the ground floor). The White Granary has been listed on

Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, also known as Cuiavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship or simply Kujawsko-Pomorskie, or Kujawy-Pomerania Province ( pl, województwo kujawsko-pomorskie ) is one of the 16 voivodeships (provinces) into which Poland is divide ...

Monuments Heritage List (no. 601216, reg. A/878, June 15, 1985). File:Spichrz, 1789-1799 Bydgoszcz, ul. Mennica 1 2 (4).JPG, Facade of the museum File:Bdg BSp&Kat 1 07-2013.jpg, The White Granary with the cathedral in the background File:Biały Spichlerz, widok z amfiteatru przy operze.JPG, View from the opposite river bank File:Bdg BialySpichrz noc 10 07-2013.jpg, By night File:Gotyckie piwnice Białego Spichlerza w Bydgoszczy.JPG, The vaulted cellar

The Mill Tavern (''Karczma Młyńska'')

Located on the waterfront of the leat branch, it was built around 1835 following

timber framing Timber framing (german: Holzfachwerk) and "post-and-beam" construction are traditional methods of building with heavy timbers, creating structures using squared-off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden ...

method, with brick fillings. It was initially used to store bagged grains. The building has an elongated rectangle footprint, with a storey and windows on the roof wystawki. In the 1990s, the granary has undergone thorough renovations. Today it houses the restaurant ''The Mill Tavern'', pl, Karczma Młyńska. The building has been listed on

Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, also known as Cuiavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship or simply Kujawsko-Pomorskie, or Kujawy-Pomerania Province ( pl, województwo kujawsko-pomorskie ) is one of the 16 voivodeships (provinces) into which Poland is divide ...

Monuments Heritage List (no. 601214, reg. A/773/1-9, June 9, 1992). File:Bdg KarczmaMlynska 8 07-2013.jpg, The house File:Karczma Młyńska 2.jpg, View from the bridge over the leat File:Spichrz, 1835 ul. Mennica 1 (1).JPG, View from Mennica street

The Red Granary

Standing opposite the Mill Bridge, it is the largest preserved granary in Bydgoszcz. Formerly so-called "Mill Camphausen", it has been built by the architect Wolff in 1861. "Mill Camphausen" complex had eight grinding lines, with an annex, a boiler room, a mill windmill, and a granary. The mill was gradually refurbished and expanded: in 1930, the building consisted of a mill, an outbuilding, a boiler house, a turbine, a lock and an airlock, a flour granary, a miller's house, an administration house with a porch and an outhouse and a shed. Behind the building is the beginning of the "Międzywodzie kanal" which parts Mill Island. Originally, adjoined to the Red Granary was set water wheels driving the mill, it was disbanded in 1917 when transitioning to hydroelectric power station. Today the adjacent building, the Miller's House, is fully rehabilitated. In 1975, the Red Granary has been attached to the Regional Museum and accommodated sporadically several art shows between 1998 and 2006. In 2006-2008, it was extensively renovated under the program ''Restoration of cultural heritage on Mill Island''. Since 2009, the Red Granary houses

Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

Modern Art Gallery. The Red Granary is a massive, four-storey, brick building with a basement. The interior layout of each floor is designated. The basement is brick

vaulted In architecture, a vault (French ''voûte'', from Italian ''volta'') is a self-supporting arched form, usually of stone or brick, serving to cover a space with a ceiling or roof. As in building an arch, a temporary support is needed while ring ...

. Since 2008 renovation and reconstruction, the facility now includes a glass staircase adjacent to the building from the north. The Red Granary has been listed on

Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, also known as Cuiavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship or simply Kujawsko-Pomorskie, or Kujawy-Pomerania Province ( pl, województwo kujawsko-pomorskie ) is one of the 16 voivodeships (provinces) into which Poland is divide ...

Monuments Heritage List (no. 601215, reg. A/773/1-9, June 9, 1992). File:Bdg CzerwSpichlerz 6 07-2013.jpg, View from the leat File:Bydgoszcz Czerwony Spichrz 1.jpg, Eastern facade File:Czerwony Spichlerz 2010.jpg, View on the modern addition File:Wyspa-ml-czerwony spichlerz 0203.jpg, View from the leat File:Czerwony Spichlerz wieczór.jpg, By night

Old mills and industrial facilities

Rother's Mills

Rother's Mills are located in the central part of the Mill Island in Bydgoszcz, directly adjacent to the flow of the river. From the north it is bordered by the Brda, and on the west by the "Grain Channel". The mills ensemble is composed of three blocks: a main building and western and eastern wings. The main building is brick built, and has four levels covered with a

gable A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of intersecting roof pitches. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system used, which reflects climate, material availability, and aesth ...

roof. The main building still preserves its interior layout of galleries on each floor. Western and eastern wings are

half-timbered Timber framing (german: Holzfachwerk) and "post-and-beam" construction are traditional methods of building with heavy timbers, creating structures using squared-off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden ...

constructed, both five-storey high. Rother's Mills story goes back to the mid-19th century, when, thanks to the opening of

Bydgoszcz Canal , original_owner = , engineer = Franz von Brenkenhoff , date_began = 1773 , date_use = 14 June 1774 , date_completed = 1775 , date_extended = 1904 , date_closed = , date_restored = , len_ft = , len_in = , ...

linking

Brda river The Brda (; german: Brahe) is a river in northern Poland, a tributary of the Vistula. It has a total length of 245 km and a catchment area (all within Poland) of 4,665 km2.Vistula River The Vistula (; pl, Wisła, ) is the longest river in Poland and the ninth-longest river in Europe, at in length. The drainage basin, reaching into three other nations, covers , of which is in Poland. The Vistula rises at Barania Góra in ...

,

Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

became a center of trade in grain and timber towards Western Europe (before the canal, grain was floated down rivers to

Gdańsk Gdańsk ( , also ; ; csb, Gduńsk;Stefan Ramułt, ''Słownik języka pomorskiego, czyli kaszubskiego'', Kraków 1893, Gdańsk 2003, ISBN 83-87408-64-6. , Johann Georg Theodor Grässe, ''Orbis latinus oder Verzeichniss der lateinischen Benen ...

). Grain turnover gave rise to new industries, creating needs for new mills and bakeries. In 1825 a consortium took control of mills on Mill Island, trading within local market but also abroad, Germany, Great Britain, and even Brazil. In 1842, Rother's Mills were integrated in a complex of several facilities, renamed Royal Mills, pioneering the first

steam engine A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid. The steam engine uses the force produced by steam pressure to push a piston back and forth inside a cylinder. This pushing force can be trans ...

in Bydgoszcz in 1846. This year is the one of the start of erection of actual Rother's Mills, on the area belonging to merchant Rauber were previously stood gardens. The entire Rother facility has been complete in 1849-1850. The project comprised not only a massive production building, but also: * a boiler room and engine room with a chimney, * a flour granary, * a pumping station (and turbine house), * a

fish ladder A fish ladder, also known as a fishway, fish pass, fish steps, or fish cannon is a structure on or around artificial and natural barriers (such as dams, locks and waterfalls) to facilitate diadromous fishes' natural migration as well as movemen ...

. All buildings were set on corrosion-resistant stilts. At the junction of "Grain Channel" and the leat was also created a wooden bridge with brick pillars, incorporating

waterwheels A water wheel is a machine for converting the energy of flowing or falling water into useful forms of power, often in a watermill. A water wheel consists of a wheel (usually constructed from wood or metal), with a number of blades or buckets ...

. In 1861, a new company took over the mill: state-owned ''Die Königliche Seehandlung Societäts zu Berlin'' and in 1886, mill was electricity powered. In 1919,

Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

municipality took possession of the facility, then in 1921 the Ministry of budget of

Second Polish Republic The Second Polish Republic, at the time officially known as the Republic of Poland, was a country in Central Europe, Central and Eastern Europe that existed between 1918 and 1939. The state was established on 6 November 1918, before the end of ...

. In 1928, some buildings Mill Island were managed directly by the National Cereal Plant Industry. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, Rother's Mills were taken over by the State Enterprises Grain and Mills ("Zbożowo-Młynarskiego"). Until the 1980s, the transportation of grain to the mills was executed by water: grain barges were plying into the canal, where a suction tube contraption transported the grain into barns. The end of economic activity for Rother's Mills happened in the 1990s. At this time, premises were purchased by the company "Hotel", which planned to renovate it into a luxury property, following a project by Warsaw architects Bulanda & Fly: in addition to the hotel, a convention center, a restaurant, a recreation center, an underground garage, as well as rental office space were forecast. The project collapsed after a few months due to financial problems. The following owner, company "Nordic Development", had plans to revitalize the ensemble into an hotel and an entertainment center but the project was never finalized. In December 2013,

Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

city acquired the property from "Nordic Development" for 25 million PLN. After a long and thorough refurbishment, in November 2022, city authorities renamed the ensemble "Centrum Nauki i Kultury Młyny Rothera " ( en, Rother's Mills Science and Culture Centre); it hosts now permanent and occasional exhibitions. The renovation project received in 2021 the title of "Modernization of the Year" at the nationwide competition "Modernization of the Year and Construction of the 21st Century". "Rother's Mills" is composed of three parts: the main building and western and eastern wings. The main building is brick made. It has a four-storey basement with a gable roof. Interior layouts of the galleries are still preserved on each floor. Eastern and western wings are

half-timbered Timber framing (german: Holzfachwerk) and "post-and-beam" construction are traditional methods of building with heavy timbers, creating structures using squared-off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden ...

constructions with five-storey each. The west wing on the river side stands on high stone-pedestal foundations. Rother's Mills have been listed on

Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, also known as Cuiavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship or simply Kujawsko-Pomorskie, or Kujawy-Pomerania Province ( pl, województwo kujawsko-pomorskie ) is one of the 16 voivodeships (provinces) into which Poland is divide ...

Monuments Heritage List (no. 601219, reg. A/773/1-9, June 9, 1992). File:Bdg MlynyRothera 3 07-2013.jpg, View from esplanade File:Bdg MlynyRothera2 01-2014.jpg, View from Brda river File:Mlyny Rothera 3706.jpg, One of the wing File:Bdg WM zakoleBrdy2 01-2014.jpg, Rother's Mills and the White Granary

Kujawska Hydropower plant

Located at the junction of the leat branch and

Brda river The Brda (; german: Brahe) is a river in northern Poland, a tributary of the Vistula. It has a total length of 245 km and a catchment area (all within Poland) of 4,665 km2. but the complex kept its granary building. The turbine had a capacity of 110 kW and it provided power to houses in the vicinity of the Old Market, but it was not linked to the city network. Two water turbines were laid out in the building, upright with wooden teeth gear. In 1975, a technical expertise declared the turbine chamber unfitted for current standards. As a consequence, the National Cereal Plant announced in the 1990s a tender for the sale of the ruined building. In July 1998, an entrepreneur, "Jerzy Kujawski", builder of a hydropower in

Kashubia pl, Kaszuby , native_name_lang = csb, de, csb , settlement_type = Historical region , anthem = Zemia Rodnô , image_map = Kashubians in Poland.png , image_flag ...

has become the new owner. He made a thorough repair to the facility and installed a new turbine: the new power plant was launched on December 1, 1998. Between 2000 and 2005, building facades have been renovated, a general overhaul of three turbines has been done and two new ones have been delivered. "Kujawska" power plant had a capacity of 600 kW in 2009, 600 kW of which were transferred to

Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

Energy department network. In 2009 a ''Museum of energy'' has opened in the facility: its aim is to recall the history of Bydgoszcz energy, hydropower plants operating in the city area and present people who played an active role in this story. The first exhibition featured a history of power plants and technical equipment. Some rooms also houses exhibitions of power equipment and a large collection of radios from the 20th century (250 pieces). The hydropower plant "Kujawska" has been listed on

Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, also known as Cuiavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship or simply Kujawsko-Pomorskie, or Kujawy-Pomerania Province ( pl, województwo kujawsko-pomorskie ) is one of the 16 voivodeships (provinces) into which Poland is divide ...

Monuments Heritage List (no. 601217 & 601218, reg. A/773/1-9, June 9, 1992). File:Bdg elektrownia wodna Kujawska 3 4-2015.jpg, Main Facade onto

Brda river The Brda (; german: Brahe) is a river in northern Poland, a tributary of the Vistula. It has a total length of 245 km and a catchment area (all within Poland) of 4,665 km2.Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

cathedral in the background

Wilhelm Kopp's dye house

Former dye house "Wilhelm Kopp" is located on the western banks of the leat channel. Address is Świętej Trójcy 4-6. The first dye house owned by Bydgoszcz industrialist William Kopp was established in 1878 in a nearby street, the company employed just 2 workers. In 1883, the owner significantly expanded its activity by purchasing a facility at Poznanska street 32. In 1893, the plant accidentally burned down, due to the misuse of gasoline, then utilized as a cleaning agent. After 10 years of use of a tentavive place downtown, Wilhelm Kopp had to build a new plant in 1903, on a plot at Świętej Trójcy Street. The building has five storeys and an ancillary section. It has been constructed in bricks, following the industrial architecture characteristic of the late 19th century. At the lower level were placed dye and steam engine boilers. The upper floors housed laundry facilities, gasoline sewage, ironing area, expedition and housing. Clothes were coming from several regional office branches ( Chelmno, Grudziadz,

Inowrocław Inowrocław (; german: Hohensalza; before 1904: Inowrazlaw; archaic: Jungleslau) is a city in central Poland with a total population of 70,713 in December 2021. It is situated in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999, previously in the By ...

and Torun), they were washed in special washing machines, using

gasoline Gasoline (; ) or petrol (; ) (see ) is a transparent, petroleum-derived flammable liquid that is used primarily as a fuel in most spark-ignited internal combustion engines (also known as petrol engines). It consists mostly of organic co ...

as detergent that could remove coffee, tea, beer and wine stains. After washing and drying, clothes were ironed and packed. William Kopp's facility was regarded as exemplary in terms of fire protection. The plant experienced a period of prosperity at the beginning of the 20th century, providing laundry services to

Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

area, but also several to other cities like Grudziadz and Torun. From 1904 to 1910, the company grew from 32 workers, of whom 26 were women, up to 60 people. When William Kopp died in 1919, company ownership moved to his two daughters and six sons. In practice, only 3 sons (Rudolf Wilhelm Albert, Julius Otto Friedrich and Felix Ernst Max) ran the business. The plant successfully operated, under Kopp Family management, through the

interwar period In the history of the 20th century, the interwar period lasted from 11 November 1918 to 1 September 1939 (20 years, 9 months, 21 days), the end of the World War I, First World War to the beginning of the World War II, Second World War. The in ...

and past the German occupation period. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, the factory was nationalized, taken over by state company "Pralchem" but eventually ceased business in the 1990s. In 2002, during the revitalisation of Mill Island, the creation of a walking path along the leat channel has separated the building from the waterway, and in 2006 a

footbridge A footbridge (also a pedestrian bridge, pedestrian overpass, or pedestrian overcrossing) is a bridge designed solely for pedestrians.''Oxford English Dictionary'' While the primary meaning for a bridge is a structure which links "two points at a ...

over the leat has been built in front of the edifice, dedicated to singer Krzysztof Klenczon. The same year, the question of rebuilding the dye house into luxury apartments has been raised: the project would have created around 30

loft A loft is a building's upper storey or elevated area in a room directly under the roof (American usage), or just an attic: a storage space under the roof usually accessed by a ladder (primarily British usage). A loft apartment refers to large ...

houses, an indoor swimming pool and a winter garden overlooking Mill Island, with a 300 m² service center on the ground floor. However, the plan has never been realized. In 2011, a new owner suggested another project for a 126 rooms hotel with 126 rooms, a restaurant, a conference room, a wellness center and a winter garden on the roof to be completed by the end of 2013. This project is on hold for the time being. File:Kopp 1928.jpg, Advertising for Kopp's dye house ca 1928 File:Farbiarnia Wilhelma Koppa początek XX w.jpg, The dye house at the end of the 19th century File:Bdg farbiarnia 14 07-2013.jpg, View from Mill Island File:Farbiarnia W Koppa 3.jpg, Main Facade

August Franke's spirit refinery

The founder of the distillery Franke was Carl August Franke, who came to

Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

in 1827 from

Leszno Leszno (german: Lissa, 1800–1918 ''Lissa in Posen'') is a historic city in western Poland, within the Greater Poland Voivodeship. It is the seventh-largest city in the province with an estimated population of 62,200, as of 2021. Previously, it ...

. It was initially a small distillery producing

rectified spirit Rectified spirit, also known as neutral spirits, rectified alcohol or ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin, is highly concentrated ethanol that has been purified by means of repeated distillation in a process called rectification. In some countr ...

. After Carl August's death in 1853, his son Hermann Franke took over the company. From this date, the firm underwent a stable and dynamic development. In 1857, the steam-powered distillation device had a capacity of 1000 liters: the 3 hp

steam machine A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid. The steam engine uses the force produced by steam pressure to push a piston back and forth inside a cylinder. This pushing force can be trans ...

, the first one installed in the city, had been produced by Friedrich Eberhard's workshops in Berliner Straße, Bydgoszcz. In 1872, Hermann Franke launched at Podwale Street 11, new plants to produce pure

rectified spirit Rectified spirit, also known as neutral spirits, rectified alcohol or ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin, is highly concentrated ethanol that has been purified by means of repeated distillation in a process called rectification. In some countr ...

, popular for

liqueur A liqueur (; ; ) is an alcoholic drink composed of spirits (often rectified spirit) and additional flavorings such as sugar, fruits, herbs, and spices. Often served with or after dessert, they are typically heavily sweetened and un-aged beyond ...

making: daily production of spirits climbed up to about 3500 liters. His high performance business made Franke's company a monopoly in the supply of alcohol in

Bromberg Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

and surrounding areas; it also created the need to solve the problem of storage, especially in winter time. Franke bought for that in 1887 a plot, on the bank of leat river, and built there a tank facility capable of storing approximately 1 million liters of raw spirit (soon up to 1.75 million liters). In 1893, he also had built there a modern refinery along the stream, which, together with the factory in Podwale Street reached a daily production of about 10,000 liters of spirits a day. This figure was never exceeded the following years, due to a reducing demand. In the 1890s, decorated public baths facilities opened close to Franke's distillery plants. Hermann Franke was known as a philanthropist, committed to work for economic, cultural and social development in the city: he was made in 1900, "Honorary Citizen of the City of

Bromberg Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

. After Hermann Franke's death in 1913, the entire company passed into the hands of his son, Conrad, who ran the firm only four years, as he died prematurely in 1917, at age 52. The neighbouring building at Czartoryskiego street 6, housed a public-bath, owned by Franke's company, using warm water generated during spirit production. On an outside wall in a courtyard is placed a

bas-relief Relief is a sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces are bonded to a solid background of the same material. The term ''relief'' is from the Latin verb ''relevo'', to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is to give the impression that the ...

"Children in a Bath" reminding this period. The plant operated through the

interwar period In the history of the 20th century, the interwar period lasted from 11 November 1918 to 1 September 1939 (20 years, 9 months, 21 days), the end of the World War I, First World War to the beginning of the World War II, Second World War. The in ...

and the German occupation period, but under German ownership. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, the factory has been nationalized and gradually ceased its activity. File:Adv CA franke 1876.jpg, Advertising for CA Franke refinery ca 1876 File:Rafineria spirytusu CA Franke przy ul Czartoryskiego.jpg, Refinery,1905 File:Bydgoszcz wyspa Okolice kładki św Trójcy 3.jpg, View from Mill island File:Wenecja Bydgoska 2224.jpg, View from Mill Island File:Franke refinery 2014.jpg, View from Czartoryskiego street, with the

bas-relief Relief is a sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces are bonded to a solid background of the same material. The term ''relief'' is from the Latin verb ''relevo'', to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is to give the impression that the ...

on the right wall

Lock and weirs

City lock

Prior to the city

lock Lock(s) may refer to: Common meanings *Lock and key, a mechanical device used to secure items of importance *Lock (water navigation), a device for boats to transit between different levels of water, as in a canal Arts and entertainment * ''Lock ...

, the river splits into two branches: * one flows through the leat branch that wrapped Mill Island and feed two

weir A weir or low head dam is a barrier across the width of a river that alters the flow characteristics of water and usually results in a change in the height of the river level. Weirs are also used to control the flow of water for outlets of l ...

s, the hydropower plant "Kujawska", the "Międzywodzie kanał", and ends at the

fish ladder A fish ladder, also known as a fishway, fish pass, fish steps, or fish cannon is a structure on or around artificial and natural barriers (such as dams, locks and waterfalls) to facilitate diadromous fishes' natural migration as well as movemen ...

near the Marina; * one is the canalized

Brda river The Brda (; german: Brahe) is a river in northern Poland, a tributary of the Vistula. It has a total length of 245 km and a catchment area (all within Poland) of 4,665 km2.sluice Sluice ( ) is a word for a channel controlled at its head by a movable gate which is called a sluice gate. A sluice gate is traditionally a wood or metal barrier sliding in grooves that are set in the sides of the waterway and can be considered ...

was built in 1774 when the

Bydgoszcz Canal , original_owner = , engineer = Franz von Brenkenhoff , date_began = 1773 , date_use = 14 June 1774 , date_completed = 1775 , date_extended = 1904 , date_closed = , date_restored = , len_ft = , len_in = , ...

was put into service. It was rebuilt many times due to the difficult conditions and the limited durability of the building material. In 1788 the sluice collapsed, and in 1792 a new wooden sluice was set up, despite efforts to use brick or stone: the structure collapsed again in 1803, to be replaced by a wooden contraption in 1805. In the following years, this event pattern happened repeatedly, until 1882, when decision was made to build aside a brick lock with an unusual trapezoidal shape. Another lock, which has survived until today, was set west of the sluice and it was put into service in 1915. It was part of a new section

Bydgoszcz Canal , original_owner = , engineer = Franz von Brenkenhoff , date_began = 1773 , date_use = 14 June 1774 , date_completed = 1775 , date_extended = 1904 , date_closed = , date_restored = , len_ft = , len_in = , ...

, fitted to 400-ton barges standards, along with two newly built large locks, in Okole and Czyżkówko. The same year, the old trapezoidal lock was filled and its stone revetment is still visible today at Marcinkowski Street. In 2014, to celebrate the 240th anniversary of the

Bydgoszcz Canal , original_owner = , engineer = Franz von Brenkenhoff , date_began = 1773 , date_use = 14 June 1774 , date_completed = 1775 , date_extended = 1904 , date_closed = , date_restored = , len_ft = , len_in = , ...

, embankments and walls of the old lock chamber have been unveiled and exposed in an educational and historical purposes, as a part of the revitalisation project of

Brda river The Brda (; german: Brahe) is a river in northern Poland, a tributary of the Vistula. It has a total length of 245 km and a catchment area (all within Poland) of 4,665 km2.Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, also known as Cuiavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship or simply Kujawsko-Pomorskie, or Kujawy-Pomerania Province ( pl, województwo kujawsko-pomorskie ) is one of the 16 voivodeships (provinces) into which Poland is divide ...

Monuments Heritage List (no. 601433, reg. A/901/1-6, December 9, 2005). In 2014-2015 an overhaul of the city lock was planned, including the set up of a sound system and video monitoring. File:Bdg Śluza Miejska 1905.jpg, Lock in 1905 File:Bdg sluzaMiejska 1a 07-2013.jpg, Northbound view File:Bdg sluzamiejska 1 07-2013.jpg, Southbound view File:Bdg śluza Miejska 03-2013a.jpg, View with Old Prussian Eastern Railway building in the background

Jaz Farny

Jaz Farny (''Parish

weir A weir or low head dam is a barrier across the width of a river that alters the flow characteristics of water and usually results in a change in the height of the river level. Weirs are also used to control the flow of water for outlets of l ...

'') is located between the leat branch of Mill Island and

Brda river The Brda (; german: Brahe) is a river in northern Poland, a tributary of the Vistula. It has a total length of 245 km and a catchment area (all within Poland) of 4,665 km2.Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

Cathedral ("St. Martin and Nicholas"), hence its name: "Kościół farny" in Polish is the "parish church". Next to this weir is the hydroelectric plant "Kujawska". At this place, in the 14th century, was located

Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

's first

dam A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, a ...

, equipped with a

water wheel A water wheel is a machine for converting the energy of flowing or falling water into useful forms of power, often in a watermill. A water wheel consists of a wheel (usually constructed from wood or metal), with a number of blades or buckets ...

driving a

grain mill A gristmill (also: grist mill, corn mill, flour mill, feed mill or feedmill) grinds cereal grain into flour and middlings. The term can refer to either the grinding mechanism or the building that holds it. Grist is grain that has been separated ...

s. The current weir has been built in 1899, then rebuilt in 1929, 1970 and 1996. In 2014-2015 is planned a thorough overhaul of this weir, part of the revitalisation project of Brda river. In 1995, the Farna weir has been listed on

Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, also known as Cuiavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship or simply Kujawsko-Pomorskie, or Kujawy-Pomerania Province ( pl, województwo kujawsko-pomorskie ) is one of the 16 voivodeships (provinces) into which Poland is divide ...

Monuments Heritage List (no. A/438/1, February 16, 1995) File:Bdg jaz farny b 05-2013.jpg, The weir with the cathedral (left) and the hydro plant (right) File:Bdg jazFarny 2 10-2013.jpg, Detailed view File:Bdg JazFarny1 01-2014.jpg, Winter time File:Jaz Farny 2260.jpg, Opposite view

Jaz Ulgowy

Jaz Ulgowy (''Small

weir A weir or low head dam is a barrier across the width of a river that alters the flow characteristics of water and usually results in a change in the height of the river level. Weirs are also used to control the flow of water for outlets of l ...

'') is located between the leat branch of Mill Island and

Brda river The Brda (; german: Brahe) is a river in northern Poland, a tributary of the Vistula. It has a total length of 245 km and a catchment area (all within Poland) of 4,665 km2. In 1995, the Ulgowa weir has been listed on

Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, also known as Cuiavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship or simply Kujawsko-Pomorskie, or Kujawy-Pomerania Province ( pl, województwo kujawsko-pomorskie ) is one of the 16 voivodeships (provinces) into which Poland is divide ...

Monuments Heritage List (no. A/438/1, February 16, 1995) File:Jaz Ulgowy 03 2011.jpg, View from the

Brda river The Brda (; german: Brahe) is a river in northern Poland, a tributary of the Vistula. It has a total length of 245 km and a catchment area (all within Poland) of 4,665 km2.Brda river The Brda (; german: Brahe) is a river in northern Poland, a tributary of the Vistula. It has a total length of 245 km and a catchment area (all within Poland) of 4,665 km2.Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

, especially among artists (F. Gajewski, Jerzy Rupniewski, O. Sager, E. Kwiatkowski, B. Nowicki, A. Grześk-Męczyńska, Leon Płoszay, F. Konitzer, F. Brzęczkowski, Józef Pieniążek, K. Zwichel). Since the 1990s, and more even since the revitalisation of Mill Island, the place has become more and more attractive in terms of tourism and leisure. File:Bdg WenecjaB c 14 07-2013.jpg, Southern part File:Bdg WenecjaB p 5 07-2013.jpg, Eastern part File:Bdg farbiarnia 14 07-2013.jpg, Western part File:Bdg WenecjaB w 3 07-2013.jpg, Brewhouse building File:Bdg WenecjaB g 1 07-2013.jpg, Eastern end

Bridges and footbridges

} 'blade'), located in the vicinity of the Red Granary in the 15th century. , Bdg MlynyRothera 2 07-2013

, ---- , Bridge over "Międzywodzie kanal" ,

footbridge A footbridge (also a pedestrian bridge, pedestrian overpass, or pedestrian overcrossing) is a bridge designed solely for pedestrians.''Oxford English Dictionary'' While the primary meaning for a bridge is a structure which links "two points at a ...

, This pedestrian bridge exists since the 19th century to lead to Mint island. It has been rebuilt in the 21st century. , Bdg Miedzywodzie 14 07-2013

, - bgcolor="#EFEFEF" , Solidarnośc Mill bridges and Harbour bridges , Road bridge,

footbridge A footbridge (also a pedestrian bridge, pedestrian overpass, or pedestrian overcrossing) is a bridge designed solely for pedestrians.''Oxford English Dictionary'' While the primary meaning for a bridge is a structure which links "two points at a ...

, tram , Two series of three bridges over the leat branch. , Bdg mostSolidarnosci 2 10-2013

Revitalisation

From 2005 to 2012, Mill Island went through a revitalization process, which was aimed at exposing its cultural, recreational and touristic values. The cost of the four projects on the island reached nearly 100 million PLN: * ''Revitalisation for business development''plan, performed in 2005 and 2006 with the help of EU funds. It included the renovation and transformation of Centre for Labour and Entrepreneurship at Mennica St.6, the renovation of quays, the construction of three footbridges and the restoration of "Międzywodzie kanał"; * ''Renovation of cultural heritage'' project, realized from 2006 to 2008 with the help of the Norwegian fund. It included the renovation of existing buildings on the island and their transformation for cultural purposes (Museum of Archaeology, Museum of Art,European Money Museum, Leon Wyczółkowski's House; * ''Construction of recreational facility'' performed from 2008 to 2011 with the help of EU funds. It comprised the renovation of Mennica street, the renovation of quays, the construction of alleys and boulevards in a vegetation park, the construction of an amphitheater, a sea sand area and an observation deck with a panoramic view on

Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

's opera; * ''Revitalisation of degraded sporting areas'' realized between 2010 and 2012 with the help of EU funds. It encompassed the construction of a marina, along with an hotel and a sports marina, the repair of wharves and fish passes. In addition to these projects, several private investment projects have been run or are planned.''Bydgoska Wenecja. Szkło, cegła i biura nad wodą'' w www.pomorska.pl (dostęp 21-12-2009)

References

External links

Mill Island on Bydgoszcz website

EEA funding of Bydgoszcz Mill Island
*
Rother's Mills

Satellite views of Mill Island

Restaurant Karczma Mlynska

Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * {{Bydgoszcz parks and green areas Cultural heritage monuments in Bydgoszcz Streets and squares in Bydgoszcz Islands of Poland Former factories in Bydgoszcz Granaries

Characteristics

History

Old Polish Period (until the mid-18th century)

Prussian period (1772-1920)

Interwar period (1920-1930)

Buildings

Historical granaries

The White Granary

The Mill Tavern (''Karczma Młyńska'')

The Red Granary

Old mills and industrial facilities

Rother's Mills

Kujawska Hydropower plant

Wilhelm Kopp's dye house

August Franke's spirit refinery

Lock and weirs

City lock

Jaz Farny

Jaz Ulgowy

Bridges and footbridges

Revitalisation

See also

References

External links

Bibliography