BEZARD MILL

This heritage site is a throwback to Marie-Galante's agricultural past, with the mill having been listed as a Monument Historique since 1983. It's definitely worth a stop on a walk around Capesterre. It was once used to crush sugar cane. Its construction date remains unknown. According to some sources, it dates back to 1814, and for others to the 1840s, but there is no certainty. It is built of ashlar and has a slate roof. It was one of the last mills to remain in service, having ceased operation in the 1920s. It was destroyed by Hurricane Betsy in 1956. In 1994, it was restored to its original condition by an 18-month training program run by the Compagnons du Tour de France. The 52 trainees from various trades who worked on the site completely rebuilt the four wings, the exterior machinery used to grind cane and the tower, for which the stones came from a Capesterre quarry. After this restoration, the mill stood majestically, with its canvas-covered wings designed to be dismantled during the hurricane season to preserve them. Unfortunately, the mill has been at a standstill for many years now, and the site and surrounding area are no longer maintained. Part of the mechanism and the mill are still visible. It is still one of the best-preserved mills on the island, after the Bellevue distillery, but for how long if it remains unmaintained?