The role of the St Elisabeth's mill
The St Elisabeth's mill fulfilled not only an economic function, but also had an important social role. The mill was a ban mill, which meant that the inhabitants of Roggel were forced to have their grain ground here. In the centuries that followed, the mill changed hands. In the 18th century, it was expropriated and sold by the French. In 1844, the mill burned down due to arson, but was soon rebuilt. The mill was expanded and even got some agricultural sheds in 1908, making it a farm mill.
A touristic ruin
Unfortunately, fate did not favour St Elisabeth's Mill. In 1944, the mill was destroyed by ammunition left by the retreating occupying forces. Today, only a picturesque ruin remains, a tangible reminder of a glorious past. A popular tourist attraction, the ruins of St Elisabeth's Mill are a silent witness to the region's rich history. It is a monument to the power of nature, human ingenuity and the inexorable ravages of time.