Monument record 5794/1 - Wellingborough Watermill

There were two watermills belonging to Crowland Manor (SMR 7206/104) in the medieval period. This mill may have been one of them.

{1} The Tithe Map of 1847 shows three watermills, Wallis's on the Nene, and Kilborn's and Little Mill both on the Ise. It is likely that all three of these mills were medieval in origin.

{2} History:
1086 At the Domesday survey this was probably the site of two mills rendering 16s. Given under Wendleberie
1267 Rental for the fulling mill on the site was 13s. 4d. Annually
1386 The grant of a watermill in Wellingborough by Curteys and Robert Southoo to Joan, widow of John Piel, and his son, confirmed by Simon Simeon
1526 The farm of two mills called Stapull Mills and all the lands and fisheries demised to Brian Todde for the term of 30 years for £6 and thence annually £6
1755 John Garratt at Staples Mill, Wellingborough
1810 Samuel Robinson, late of Wellingborough Mill died and debtors requested to pay their respective debts to his widow, Mrs. Mary Wallis
1814-47 G. Wallis, occupier of mill, the owners being the Exors. Of S. Robinson
1848 Thomas Turnell and his son Thomas Battams Turnell took the tenancy of Wellingborough Mill and farm
1849 Following death of Thomas Battam Snr, Thomas Battams Turnell took over operating the mill
1874 Date on a stone with letters WB on mill (observed in 1964)
1890 By this time steam, as well as water power, was used at the mill
1898 Thomas Turnell last of the family to be listed in trade directory entries for the mill
1951 Mill used by Whitworth Bros. for making provender. Mill-stone plant was worked by the waterwheel and a modern diesel engine drove hammer mill and mixing plant. The water wheel was used as much as possible but there was insufficient water for full time working
1964 Mill still in use, with electrically powered mixers for animal food. The 15ft diameter breast-shot waterwheel remained together with gearing to drive a long layshaft, formerly carrying bevel gears to drive the millstones on the floor above.
1966 Work of any kind ceased at mill
The mill was later demolished leaving the waterwheel and gears to lineshaft in situ, but in the open. The area has since been cleared.
Documentary sources: Ogilby's 1675 plan of the Cambridge to Coventry road marks a water mill at approx this site; Harris's 1712 map marks it as Staple Mill; Eyre's 1779 map marks it Staples Mill; 1819 survey plan for OS marks it only as Mill; Bryant's 1827 map marks it Wellingborough Mill; 1835 1 inch OS map marks it Wellingborough Mill but Bevan's 1838 map of the fields of Wellingborough refers to it as Staple's Mill.

<1> Foard G, 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Wellingborough (Medieval + Post Medieval), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100339.

<2> STARMER G., 2002?, Northamptonshire Watermills Survey 2001 - 2002 (H-Z), p.129 (checked) (Report). SNN105521.

<3> 1771, Survey of Wellingborough Hatton manor 1771, (unchecked) (Document). SNN100360.

<4> James, W., 1803, Wellingborough Town 1803, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100362.

<5> 1849, Wellingborough Tithe Map 1849, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100363.

<6> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 2010, Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group Newsletter (Vol.115), p.7 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN44153.

Record last edited

Apr 25 2025 9:02AM