Building record 8669/1/2 - Perio Mill House and attached Mill Buildings

Mill house with attached mill buildings. The mill has medieval origins but the structure is mainly 17th and 19th century. The house is mid 17th century with 19th and 20th century alterations. The mill was used as a paper mill during the 18th century and a corn mill during the 19th and 20th centuries.

{1} Watermill and attached house. Site has medieval origins, but mainly mid C17 to C19. Regular coursed and squared coursed limestone with Colleyweston slate and corrugated asbestos roofs. Mill house is a 2-unit plan. 2 storeys with attic, and 3 storeys. 2-window range of irregularly spaced sash and casement windows, with glazing bars, under wood lintels. Second floor window to left has a moulded stone surround. Evidence of stone surrounds to blocked openings to right. Eaves are on 2 levels. Hipped aves dormer to right with casement window, and brick and stone stacks at ends. 3-window range attached to right links with Mill buildings. 5 bays; 4-window range of irregularly spaced C19 cast iron windows under shallow brick arches. Part of upper storey, to far right, is brick. Mill race passes under building to right of centre. Rear of house has 2 windows to right, with moulded stone surrounds, and a C20 two-storey extension with porch to left. Mill building attached to left has C19 cast ir n windows similar to the front. Interior: House has remains of open fireplace with bressumer. Interior of mill buildings not inspected. There was originally a religious house at Perio dedicated to St. John and St. Martin. It is first mentioned in 1282. Mill was used as a paper mill during C18 and corn mill during C19 and C20. (RCHM: An Inventory of Architectural Monuments in North Northamptonshire: p163)

{4} A Level III building recording survey was carried out of the mill buildings prior to proposed conversion to domestic use in 2007.

Mill mentioned at Domesday and twice during the 14th century. By 1658 two mills at Perio are listed as belonging to the earl of Newport, Lord of the Manor of Fotheringhay, who leased “two corne mill, one wheat and one fulling mill…under one roof”. In 1718 the mill became a paper mill but in 1721 it burnt down. It was obviously soon re-built as Thomas Stirk, a paper maker, insured the mill in 1724. Another paper maker, John Hayes insured the utensils and stock “in the best mill and in the old mill” in 1737. By 1800 the mill, still property of the manor of Fotheringhay, was advertised for sale as “a valuable watermill now used as a paper mill”. The new owner, Francis Tidbury, died in 1814 and in 1815 the lease was re-advertised for sale. In 1851 the engine, presses, vat, fixtures and apparatus for making paper were advertised for sale, ending its paper making days. In use as a corn mill until the Nene River Authority lowered the water level rendering the mill unworkable in 1932. All the machinery was removed shortly thereafter.

{7} Undated photo;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 5/132 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

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

<3> Prentice J., 2007, Archaeological Building Recording & Desk-Based Assessment at Perio Mill, Fotheringhay, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN105860.

<4> Ian Lang Associates, 1993, Perio Mill Fotheringhay: Architects Plans (as exisitng and proposed) (Plan). SNN111685.

<5> Photographs of buildings in Fotheringhay (Photographs). SNN112503.

<6> STARMER G., 2002?, Northamptonshire Watermills Survey 2001 - 2002 (H-Z), p. 107 (Report). SNN105521.

<7> Photographs of buildings in Southwick (Photographs). SNN113176.

<8> Historic England, PERIO MILL, SOUTHWICK, BF084446 (Archive). SNN115118.

Record last edited

May 23 2023 3:56PM