Much more than a stone watermill

In Vilasantar, A Coruña, in 1894, the construction of what today could be a real piece of industrial archaeology began. And an exceptional house. In its 250 m2 of surface, we find these elements of its historical activity perfectly preserved. And also a wonderful space, rehabilitated and maintained with good taste, adaptable to the needs of its new owners in terms of distribution and details. Everything surrounded by nature, water and peace.

A stone watermill. A house plenty of life, ready to start from scratch.

Built by the great-grandfather of the current owner, this building had several projects that are still preserved today. The fact that it has not changed hands in more than a century is a guarantee of quality and care. The house was first an industrial building, as we have already seen, and later it was reconverted into a home. In fact, in its large living room you can see the original mill hopper, with its machinery intact. And also the electricity generating turbine.

On the ground floor, we find the mentioned living room, with its wide fireplace to which an ingenious heating system has been coupled. It has several very bright rooms. There is also the kitchen, combining ancient and modern elements. In addition, on this floor, we find the old sawmill, now converted into an original dining room, from whose ceiling hangs an old wooden boat, batuxo in Galician. There is also a bathroom with shower. It is currently the only one in the house, but work is underway to prepare for the installation of another one on the upper floor.

On the first floor, after passing through a small and pretty open living room on the staircase landing, we discover two bedrooms. One with a double bed and canopy. And another very big one with three beds and enough furniture; partitioned to the taste of the new owners, more rooms could be obtained.

On the third floor there is a third double bedroom, with two canopy beds. The furniture of all these spaces, mostly original from the time of construction or at least 100 years old, fits perfectly with the style of the house and would be included in the sale price, except for some personal objects.

A property full of unique surprises

Who has in their living room an object that was awarded the Gold Medal at the 1910 World’s Fair in Brussels, as a great innovation of the time, and is still in perfect working order? In fact, it could eventually produce electricity. Or you can eat in a room that was the sawmill that allowed the Galician livestock and agriculture run for centuries: the wooden clogs. And with much of the original tool jealously guarded. A mill like this was much more than an industrial or agricultural facility. It was a social meeting point, where neighbors exchanged experiences while the grain fell into the hopper that can be seen today, intact, in the living room of this house. A living place, much more than a simple stone watermill.

The house is ready for the new owners to adapt some details to their taste. Part of the electrical installation and plumbing could be finished to order. However, at present, the heating works perfectly, with several systems. Some reusing the heat from the large fireplace to spread it throughout the house. It also has a traditional bread oven.

Its 37,000 m2 of land, has always been a single property. Today it is divided in two by a narrow road with very little traffic. This property contains, besides the stone watermill, a stone hut used as a woodshed, of 27 m2. But the jewel of this land is the pond formed by the waters of the Cabalar River in the mill’s dam: a sheet of water of about 700 m2, with a sandy bottom. A fluvial swimming pool at the foot of the house.

Relax, everything’s close.