Many large estates, including Hollycombe, had their own sawmills to process timber.
Magical as ever – 3rd season ticket in a row.
Ward Family, Alton
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The Robey semi-portable is the centrepiece of the steam sawmill and drives either a rack sawbench, with a five foot circular saw capable of dealing with large tree trunks, or a Robinson push bench for cross cutting.
Built in 1915, this is a highly efficient engine, being compounded, condensing and originally superheated. It is believed to have been commandeered in the Great War and used in the forests to process timber for the war effort. In 1920, it went to Beechwood Brushes at Chesham, Bucks, where it ran all the machinery in the factory for nearly 50 years, as well as generating electricity.
The original Hollycombe estate sawmill was down in the valley at the Home Farm and is visible from the Quarry Railway. A Wallis & Stevens tractor that was housed in a purpose-built engine shed opposite was used to drive the saws as required.
Sadly, the Robey engine is currently out of commission pending boiler repairs.