Monument record 8195/2 - Kings Mill; Higham Mill; Chown's Mill

{2} {3} {4} A watermill is recorded in 1086 which rendered 20/-. Later sources record two watermills, but one of these was Ditchford Mill, recorded in 1235-6 in Rushden parish. Within Higham township itself there was King's Mill or Higham Mill which in 1298 is described as three mills under one roof worth £8 with the fishery at the mill worth a further 6/8d. King's Mill is securely located on a side channel of the Nene to the north west of the town in the 18th century.

{5} History:
1086 Domesday survey gives Hecham with one mill rendering 20s (it has been suggested that this was on the site of the later Ditchford mills)
1298 The mills of Higham produced an annual income of £8
1505 Higham Mills had three watermills under one roof
1713 John Sander, miller, Higham Ferrers
1762-1914 Chown family at Higham Mills
1920 Described as 'Not in work'
c.1935 Mills pulled down

Documentary sources: John Harris' 1712, 1817 survey plan for OS, Bryant's 1827 map and 1835 1 inch OS map all show it as Higham Mill.

<1> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Industrial Period, (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN4.

<2> Foard G.; Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Higham Ferrers (Medieval - Industrial), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100543.

<3> COLBECK J., 1737, Higham Ferrers, 1737 (NRO Map 1004), (unchecked) (Map). SNN100548.

<4> Bainbridge T., 1789, Higham Ferrers, 1789 (NRO Map 1000), (unchecked) (Map). SNN100544.

<5> STARMER G., 2002?, Northamptonshire Watermills Survey 2001 - 2002 (A-H), p.70 (checked) (Report). SNN105520.

Record last edited

Sep 29 2014 12:30PM