Building record 7744/1/1 - Barnwell Watermill

Watermill, now in use as restaurant. C17 origins, datestone JN/1746, and C20. Squared coursed limestone with Collyweston slate roof. The site may have Saxon/medieval origins.

{1} Watermill, now in use as restaurant. C17 origins, datestone JN/1746, and C20. Squared coursed limestone with Collyweston slate roof. Rectangular plan. 3 storeys with loft. Irregular 5-window range of casements with glazing bars under wood lintels. Plank doors to far left and right and similar central door with C20 wooden porch, all under wood lintels. Similar door to first floor left of porch has flight of C20 wooden steps. Central weatherboarded loft gantry restored C20. Mill races pass under building to left and right of centre. C20 bay, to far right, is in similar style and has C20 plank door to first floor with flight of wooden steps. Left gable has one, 2-light, stone mullion window with casement window above. Rear elevation is similar to front elevation with one, 2-light, stone mullion window and one single-light window with stone surround. Other windows are casements with glazing bars. Date on quoin to rear left hand corner. Interior remodelled C20, some original structure remains.

{3} An impressive three storey stone building with stone slate roof and a large wooden lucam. During the 19th century the corn mill was part of the Duke of Buccleuch's estate. In 1893 the horizontal mill stones were replaced by a roller milling plant, powered by a Vortex-type water turbine, but the large internal undershot waterwheel was still there in 1939 by which time the mill was no longer at work. The Buccleuch estates sold the mill in the late 1960s and it is now a bar and restaurant

{5} Undated photo;

{6} 875 Barnwell Mill mentioned in Anglo Saxon Chronicles
1086 Bernewelle had two mills rendering 24s
1305 Three mills at the site
1712 Described as 'New Mill'
1893 Roller milling plant installed in the existing building to replace the horizontal grinding stones. The breast-shot waterwheel was replaced by a turbine of the Vortex type.
1939 Mill no longer working but was described as having a large enclosed undershot waterwheel
1980s Mill converted to a restaurant

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 8/17 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G10 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41470.

<3> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 2001, A Guide To The Industrial Heritage Of Northamptonshire, p.9 (checked) (Gazetteer). SNN104759.

<4> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 2011, A Guide To The Industrial Heritage of Northamptonshire (2nd Edition), p.12 (checked) (Gazetteer). SNN107622.

<5> Photographs of buildings in Barnwell (Photographs). SNN111911.

<6> STARMER G., 2002?, Northamptonshire Watermills Survey 2001 - 2002 (A-H) (Report). SNN105520.

Record last edited

Oct 1 2020 2:55PM