The house mill is preserved in London's East end is an amazing monument of engineering centuries ago. It is the world's largest tidal mill, who worked exclusively on the energy of the sea tide.

The mill, located at the mouths of rivers, known since the Roman times. Its principle is simple: at high tide, water is taken in a special pool, and then gradually poured from him, turning the wheel. Such a mechanism is guaranteed to work at least three hours a day.

In the Domesday book of the eleventh century States that on the Li river in Stratford (on the spot where now stands the house mill) there were eight or nine of these mills. In 1135 three of them bought a local Abbey, the area on the Bank has received the name of Three mills (Three Mills"). In the XVII century there were grinding grain for distillation of alcohol, local producers supply raw materials for luxury pubs, in which they served gin (they were called gin palaces).

Current house mill was built in 1776 by the architect Daniel Bisson. In 1802, a fire destroyed the building, it was rebuilt by Philip Metcalfe (politician, patron of the arts and successful trader of gin). During the Second world war in neighboring warehouse hit by a bomb, the house was damaged and has long been used as a warehouse. In 1970 he was rescued from demolition in 1989 began the reconstruction of not only buildings, but entire block.

This place looks amazing: streets leading to the house mill, stone paved surrounding buildings (restored at the end of the last century) store the appearance of a medieval London. Next to the house mill is the other surviving tidal mill – Hour, with a beautiful tower, decorated with a clock.

Visitors can see the restored interiors of the house mill: powerful wooden joists stained, as expected, the flour, the premises are heavy millstones. The water wheel, however, does not rotate, but the team of local enthusiasts plans full recovery of all mechanisms and even generating windmill electricity to supply it to the grid on London.

Side by side with the house mill is the largest in the London Studio "Three mills". Filmed here such famous films as "lock, stock and two Smoking barrels" and "28 days later". The Studio tour is impossible, but you can visit lying in two steps great Park, Three mills green. Here is the "Wild Kingdom" – specially devised for children the vast green space with fallen trees, nets, ropes, giant stumps and hammocks.