MP5 - Bordeaux

Vale Mill Tower

The original mill was constructed in 1770 and made of wood, however in 1854 the wooden mill was demolished and replaced with a granite mill. The mill operated as a flour mill until 1940 when the German Occupying Forces marked it as MP5 or Marine Peilstand 5. During the construction the sails of the mill were removed and 3 additional floors installed. These floors included a flak emplacement, and as is typical with Marine Peilstands, range finding equipment. The sails were reinstalled by the Germans to provide camouflage from RAF aircraft. The additional stories are also clad in granite. Post-war the States of Guernsey attempted to remove the additions to the tower, however just the sails and the top floor were removed. In 2006 a full scale renovation was completed, prior to its sale. On 8th November 2008 the building was sold for £57,000 and is currently undergoing repointing and conversion into a dwelling.  Its range-finding directions survive and are being preserved.