Breyner Mill

Category: Civil Architecture > Mill

District: Setúbal > Seixal > Seixal > Casal de Santo António

Location

Located in Seixal, in the area of Casal de Santo António, the Moinho do Breyner benefits from a unique location along the left bank of the Coina river. This riverside position was not only crucial for its operation as a tide mill but also lends the site a distinct and tranquil atmosphere within the surrounding landscape.

A 15th Century Legacy

The Moinho do Breyner stands as a testament to ancient engineering, with its origins dating back to the 15th century. This type of structure, known as a tide mill, was designed to harness the force of rising and falling waters, an ingenious grinding method essential for riverside communities of the era. Its historical and architectural significance is formally recognized, having been classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1984, safeguarding its presence in collective memory and the local landscape.

Evolution and Industrial Memories

Over the centuries, the Moinho do Breyner adapted to different economic realities, transforming and acquiring new functions. After being partially affected by the 1755 earthquake, the complex underwent careful reconstruction. Originally, the complex was more extensive, encompassing the grinding house, the miller's house, cereal storage areas, and an embarkation pier, essential for the site's logistics. In the second half of the 19th century, the mill began a new chapter, converting into a pasta factory. Subsequently, in the 1930s, the facility, then known as Fábrica Sereia, shifted to fertilizer production. Its last industrial phase, starting in 1976, involved fish canning, an activity that ceased in 1989, marking the end of a long and multifaceted industrial history.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt