Monument record 130/49 - Castle Mill

{1}There were separate mills in the Old Town and the New Town. The Castle Mill is first recorded by name in 1240, but it is likely that it was part of the initial works connected with the construction of the castle and its associated fishponds. In 1240 the Castle Mill was granted to the Hospital of St John together with licence to build another mill, either a wind or water mill, and to restrain the townspeople, except John Mace, from carriage to any other mill.

This is the Brackley mill recorded in 1230-40 as lying at the entrance of the town from Oxford, from which the Hospital received 1 mark per annum grant and then in 1240 another 2 marks, making the £2 recorded in the later grant of the mill. In 1255-6 the Hospital were finally granted the Mill in perpetual farm with a grant of a further 5 marks from the mill. In 1413 the Hospital leased the Castle Mill, Mullestyde and croft and fishewere croft to a new tenant who was to build a new mill(for further details see report).

{2} Appears to be a fairly late watermill: no information on it until mention in 1869 Kelly's/ 1900 25in OS map marks it simply as "Corn mill" and "Gas works" shown between the mill and the Oxford Rd. There was no evidence of the mill in 2001 but there may be some evidence beneath ground level.

<1> Ballinger J.; Foard G., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Brackley, (unchecked) (Report). SNN106655.

<1> Ballinger J.; Foard G., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Brackley, Section 3.1.2.3 Watermills Castle Mill (Digital archive). SNN100499.

<2> STARMER G., 2002?, Northamptonshire Watermills Survey 2001 - 2002 (A-H), p.11 (Report). SNN105520.

Record last edited

Oct 1 2020 3:35PM