Monument record 3983/1 - Shotwell Mill

There is a 15th-century reference to Shotelmyll. The watermill was in use until at least the late 19th-century, but was disused by 1917 and is now demolished.

{1} Shotwell mill lay at the northern edge of the township. In 1607 it is listed in the survey of the main manor, when it was described as decayed but held at a rent of 13/4d under lease by Tresham together with the greater part of the rest of the manor. The mill was still working in the 19th century when shown on the Inclosure map and then as a corn mill on the 1st edition 1:10560 OS mapping. In the late 1970s the large mill pond still survived among the trees but it has been dry since its water supply was diverted at the end of the 19th century. The site lies on a steep slope above the Ise and was created by throwing upcast downslope to form a large dam, below which the mill was built, fed by a narrow stone-lined leat. The stone foundations of the mill could still be traced in the 1970s. Shotwell mill is probably one of the two mills recorded in the manor in the late 13th century. It survives as an earthwork site but was probably substantial reconstructed in the 18th and 19th centuries and hence may not have well preserved earlier deposits.

{3} Earthworks of a watermill, possibly medieval and post medieval. The water source for the mill was originally a spring, now diverted. The mill pond was formed by using the upcast to form a large dam on the hillside. An area of stone internal facing is still present near the mill race. The wheel pit and stone foundations of a mill building also survive.

{4} Photos of millpond

{5} History:
1086 Domesday survey lists Rodewelle and Overtone (Orton) with two mills rendering 9s. 4d.
15th C References to Shotelmyll in Ministers Accounts
1727 Will of James Cooper, of Dean in Northamptonshire, miller, left Shotwell Mill and the windmill on Rushton Meer as surety for the maintenance of giving three pounds a year in bread to the poor of the parish of Weldon
1762 Indenture refers to messuage or tenement with the Engine or Watermill thereto adjoining and belonging, “situate in Rowell and there commonly called or known by the name of Shotwell Mill or Shotwell House”.
1786 Richard Marriott mortgaged the mills and land to Ann Burford of Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicestershire, spinster
1829 Reference to Rothwell Poor Law administration setting men to grind flour at the mills
1856 Shotwell Mill advertised for sale and described as having never-failing supply of water, and capable of grinding 30 quarters per week. The machinery comprised two pairs of stones, flour machine and a new water-wheel. “The buildings are so constructed that at a small expense they may be converted into a good dwelling house”. It was sold to William Chater, farmer of Rowell Lodge, for £155.
1860 Mr. Bazeley working the watermill and windmill in Rushton parish
1900 William Chater was still owner of the watermill when he died
1901 When Rothwell Urban District Council were considering improvements in water supply, it was offered certain land on which stood “an old watermill”.
1902 Rothwell UDC in ownership of mill and mill dam
c.1912 One of the three pairs of stones still at Rothwell Mill taken to Orton Brickworks
1917 A plan with an agreement granting water rights by LB Bagshaw and others to Rothwell UDC, shows Shotwell Mill, disused.
Documentary sources: Eyre and Jeffreys’ 1791 map marks it Mill; 1821 survey plan for OS marks it Mill; Bryants’ 1827 map marks it Shotwell Mill.

Watercourses were altered when the waterworks were constructed but there is still a sizeable pond upstream of the surviving arch over the wheel-race. At the final approach to the wheel-race the sides of the pond are walled with coursed stone. The wheel-race arch also appears to be of stone although a photo of the mill in its disused state shows it to be a brick building.

{6}{7} Watermill and mill pond shown

<1> Foard G, 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Rothwell (Medieval and Post Medieval), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100514.

<2> Hall D.N., 1960-1999, Rockingham Forest Project: Archaeological Sites Recorded by David Hall, (unchecked) (Database). SNN102279.

<3> FOARD G.R., 1977, Oral Report to SMR, (unchecked) (Oral Report). SNN51333.

<4> Royall, E., 2003, Letters re. Shotwell Mill, Rothwell, (checked) (Correspondence). SNN107131.

<5> STARMER G., 2002?, Northamptonshire Watermills Survey 2001 - 2002 (H-Z), p.105 (checked) (Report). SNN105521.

<6> MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN24017.

<7> 1819, Rothwell Inclosure Map 1819, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100516.

Record last edited

Oct 21 2020 12:14PM