Lancaster Roller Mills / Kamps Mill

Built in 1843, Lancaster Roller Mill is the only remaining flour mill of the original 15 once functioning in Lancaster County Virginia.

Lancaster Roller Mill is located in one of our nation’s spectacular geographic areas, the Northern Neck of Virginia, 4.5 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. With only a 6’ elevation of land from the coast line in the surrounding area, it was a mechanical wonder that the miller found the 7’ head created by the large millpond (Kamp’s Millpond) and the waterwheel pit. (Google Earth Map to Lancaster Roller Mill) Kamp’s Millpond is dammed on a watershed and tributary of the Corrotoman River. The mouth of the Corrotoman River empties into the Rappahannock River and ultimately into the Cheesapeake Bay.

Today Lancaster Roller Mill is owned and preserved by Kendal Acors since 1998.

Last year, Kendall pulled out the 32” turbine that powered the mill since the late 1880’s. He is planning a wooden waterwheel installation to power the millstones. The Mill has 32 windows and 5 doors. The Lancaster Roller Mill is large. From the roof line to the water level it stands 65’. The 4 levels of the mill includes a basement and is 30’ by 40’. There is also an attached building which is 70’ long by 18’ wide. With a total of 5000 square feet, this mill is massive.

The construction of the huge timbers and mortised joints can be identified in the photographs. A German millwright, Greoge Kamps, built Lancaster Mill in 1843. He was a skilled artisan and his creation can be reflected today is the solid, stable mill. Resources: Kendall Acors - Owner of Lancaster Roller Mill - Interview 30 May 2014; Grist Mills of the Northern Neck of Virginia by Marjorie Lundegard