Kayakers admire the lovely stonework of the old mill at Bedford Mills, now a private residence. The mill, located at Buttermilk Falls, the outlet of Devil Lake, was built in 1850 by Benjamin Tett. It operated until 1904 and was later turned into a private residence.
The area is interesting to visit by water or road. A squatter sawmill was built here in 1829 by Barnet and Legg, later taken over by Benjamin Tett who obtained the water lease in 1831. A sawmill operated here until 1920. Several large wood slab wharfs were built (still visible today) to hold sawn planks, ready for shipment by barge.
Beford Mills was also a major Rideau shipbuilding site, with at least 29 vessels of various descriptions (mostly unpowered and steamer barges), being built between 1855 and 1921.
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