Near Fort Lawn in Chester County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Mill Complex

Photographed by Michael Sean Nix, November 22, 2008

1. Mill Complex Marker

Inscription. Near its halfway point, the canal passed the mill complex built by William Richardson Davie around 1810. This mill sawed lumber and ground grain, both by use of water power. A waste weir at the entrance to the complex regulated the level of water in the canal. The weir, a stone wall with spillway at the highest safe water level, kept excess water in the complex from damaging the mill area. Under the weir can still be seen the outflow arch of a culvert which carried a small stream under the canal bed. The upstream arch has been destroyed by flooding. A basin at the front of the complex allowed boats to pull to the side to load lumber and meal. A flume directed water from the canal to operate the mill wheel, while the canal itself passed between a pair of retaining walls designed to protect the foundation of the mill from being damaged by the flowing water.

Erected by South Carolina State Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1810.

Location. 34° 46.626′ N, 80° 52.704′ W. Marker is near Fort Lawn, South Carolina, in Chester County. It can be reached from Park Drive near Landsford Road (South Carolina Highway 843), on the right when traveling north. Marker is

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located on the Canal Trail of Landsford Canal State Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Lawn SC 29714, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Midlands

and in the Olde English District. It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Canal Bed (approx. 0.2 miles away); Culvert (approx. ¼ mile away); Construction of Stonework (approx. 0.3 miles away); Great Indian Warrior Trading Path (approx. 0.4 miles away); Footbridge (approx. 0.6 miles away); A Nest with a Bird's-Eye View (approx. 0.9 miles away); Landsford Canal State Park Trails (approx. one mile away); The Guardlock (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Lawn.

Also see . . . South Carolina Department of Archives and History. (Submitted on November 22, 2008, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina.)

Mill Complex image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Sean Nix, November 22, 2008

2. Mill Complex

Photographed by Michael Sean Nix, November 22, 2008

3. Mill Complex

Photographed by Michael Sean Nix, November 22, 2008

4. Mill Complex

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 22, 2008, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,572 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 22, 2008, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.