Building record 3721/0/6 - Hardwater Mill and The Cottage

Known as 'Hepdewath' in the 14th century, by the early 18th century maps show it as Hardwater Mill. The former two-storey stone built corn mill is at the south-west end of the range of buildings. It ceased work c.1930

{1} Watermill and house, now 2 dwellings. Mid C18 and early C19. Regular coursed limestone now painted, with C19 pantile and concrete tile roofs. Originally 2-unit plan with mill attached to left. 2 storeys with attic. House originally of 2-window range with casements with glazing bars under wood lintels. 2 Lincolnshire roof dormers and brick stacks at ends. 3-window range of casements with glazing bars under wood lintels is attached to left and was originally the mill. Ground floor now has 3 garage door openings. Ashlar gable parapets and kneelers to left. Early C19 four-window range to right is similar with 2 C20 doors between windows. Different eaves levels with ashlar gable parapet between and brick stacks at ridge. Dormer to right. Hipped roof on right end. Mill race passes underneath the mill buildings. Interior not inspected.

{4}Hardwater Mill; stone building; no wheel; originally used for corn grinding; modified into house; no surviving machinery;

{5} 1086 Domesday survey records at Dodintone one mill rendering 4s.
1329 Miller of Doddington drowned whilst closing the sluice-gates of the mill of Hepdewath
1750 Advertised as suitable for papermaking but apparently never occupied for that purpose
1773 Ambrose Isted transferred Barnard's Manor, including a mill, to Richard Heron
1781 Mill held by the Earl of Northampton
1855 Fatal accident to Thomas Loweth, miller employed by Mr Pettit at Hardwater Mill. His coat skirt had caught a wheel and he was dragged upon them.
1928 Last directory entry for this mill when Walter Bradshaw was farmer and miller (water). Some time later stripped of machinery (the pit wheel going to Heyford Mill) an converted, partly to garages.

{6} Undated photo;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 7/115 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1986, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G05 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN100394.

<3> Starmer G.H., 1982, National Register of Industrial Monuments, (part checked) (Catalogue). SNN563.

<4> Starmer G.H., 1964, CBA Record Cards: Industrial Archaeology in Northamptonshire, Recorded by GH Starmer, 15-Aug-1964, Record No.308302 (Recording Form (Not SMR)). SNN1647.

<5> STARMER G., 2002?, Northamptonshire Watermills Survey 2001 - 2002 (A-H), p. 43 (Report). SNN105520.

<6> Photographs of buildings in Great Doddington (Photographs). SNN112506.

Record last edited

Mar 13 2024 2:07PM