Radkovský mlýn Water mill

Welcome to the village Hostim. You're standing in front of one of the most interesting places in this neighborhood, in front of Radkov Mill. Before we go into his story, let yourself stand for a moment and soak up the atmosphere of this place. Feel how the river Nedvek flows here and how its constant movement gives life to this whole place. In front of your eyes is a solid, walled building, which is very stable and permanent with its presence. It's a one-story building that has two worlds in it. Notice how one large guard covers the entire object, and yet everything is divided inside. On the one hand there is space for work, for mills, and on the other hand there is a residential area where human life was once led. This separation of spaces under one roof is a typical feature of buildings that had to be also a functional machine and home for their inhabitants.

Let us now move further into time together and look at how this mill was formed. Although this building may seem to you as part of the current landscape, its roots go much further than they might at first glance. The first clues we can find about this place in the written records dates back to 1824. Back then, the mill was recorded in documents under a name that may seem foreign to us today, but at that time it was quite common. That's when Kaspar's mill was written about him. Since then, this place has undergone many changes, but its essence as a place of water and work has remained. It's fascinating to think about how many people have worked in these areas and how many generations have been changing over the years.

Now pay attention to the construction itself and to what you can see directly. Focus on the wall and the overall structure of the building. Even though the mill is no longer used for original technical purposes, its architecture still tells the story of what it was used for. It is a building built with respect to the power of water and the need for resistance. In the past, it was not just about housing, but mainly about operating a machine. Notice how the building is adequate for the stream of the Nedveka. This whole object was considered very valuable in a certain period, namely from 1958 to 1987. It was included in the list of real cultural monuments of the Czech Republic. This means that people were aware of its historical weight and its importance to our history. Although this official protection was terminated after several decades, the value of this place as a witness to the past remains undeniable.

When we look at the history of this place, we can't forget the names that are associated with it. One of the important men we know about is Antonín Radkovský. In 1930, he was the owner of this building. You can imagine what it must have been like to manage a mill like that at the time. Radkovský became part of the history of this place and his name is firmly linked to him, as well as the mill in the people's memory connects with the name Kashparov. These names give us a human dimension, show us that behind every wall and every piece of wood were real people, their efforts, their work and their lives.

Now I want to invite you to think about one technical interesting thing that might surprise you. Imagine the power that once ruled this place. In 1930, the mill worked here as a crushing facility, a so-called scrapper. This machine was not powered by electricity or any other modern source, but by the river itself. It used a bicycle placed on top of the water. This means that the water hit the wheel from above, which required some construction and proper water flow. And the power was really impressive. With a certain flow of water and the correct slope of the river, this wheel was able to develop a performance that matched the force of four horsepower. Imagine the incredible energy that was poured through the wooden and metal parts of the machine and turned into a movement that could crush and process material. It was a combination of the natural power of water and human technical art.

There may not be much left of the original technical equipment today, but the atmosphere of the old working mill is still felt in every corner of this place. It's a place where calm nature meets the legacy of human labor. You are standing in front of a monument that has survived centuries, which has been protected as a treasure for our history, and which still reminds us today how people have been able to use nature's forces to make life easier for themselves.

I hope you're interested in this brief insight into the history of Radkovsky Mill. Before you go on your journey, I suggest you stand by the riverbank for a while and listen to the noise of water. You might hear in that sound the echo of an old wheel that once worked so hard. Welcome again to Hostimi and wish you a beautiful and inspiring walk around this beautiful neighborhood. Explore other secrets that this journey will offer. Goodbye.