Monument record 6223/1 - Thrapston Mill

A mill recorded in Thrapston since the 11th century. A watermill existed to the south west of the town on the river Nene in 1782, in a small area of old enclosure, which may well be on the site of the medieval mill. The later mill was demolished in the 20th century.

{1} A mill was recorded in 1336.

{3} This mill may be associated with De Veer manor [see SMR 7204/74]. Exact location is unknown. In 1086 there was a mill appendant to the main manor, worth £1. There are various references to the mill in leases and other documents in the 14th and 15th centuries. A watermill existed to the south west of the town on the river Nene in 1782, in a small area of old enclosure, which may well be on the site of the medieval mill.

{5} History:
1086 Domesday Survey for Thrapstone records one mill rendering 20s
1335 Manor of Thrapston included a watermill
1409 Robert Veer, Lord of Thrapston leased to William Plonkerose and his son, John, a watermill in Thrapston at £5-6-8 per annum for 20 years and to repair
1435 Mill leased to John Muston for 4 years at £4-6-8 per annum
1733 A pair of watermills at Thrapston to be let, with a large granary and also a good windmill
1771 Peter Collins of Islip, miller and merchant, insured a number of watermills including Thrapston Water Mill, described as thatched, for a sum not exceeding £50, and a water corn mill near Thrapston, of brick, timber and tiled for a sum not exceeding £200
1785 John Collins insured water corn mill and warehouse, called Thrapston Mills, brick and timber, for £400
1788 Commission of bankrupt against John Collins in July. In September the mills were advertised for sale and described as standing empty
1841-87 Mill occupied by John Bradshaw
1911 Mill advertised for sale and described as worked by water and steam
1940 John Barrick and Son, using only water power, in last trade directory entry for this mill
1966 Mill described as in poor condition, a section of the downstream side of the building had been shored up with a mass concrete wall and the stairs leading to the first floor had collapsed, the floor itself being without floorboards

Documentary sources: John Harris's 1712 map marks it by symbol; 1791 Eyre and Jeffreys map marks it Mills; 1819 survey plan for OS shows building, unnamed; Bryant's 1827 map marks it Thrapston Mill; as does the 1835 1 inch OS map.

Following demolition and clearance, the site of the mill has been resurfaced. The remaining feature of the mill is the shortened red brick square-section chimney associated with the steam engine.

{7} In Trench 1 archaeological remains comprised two brick floors, a large concrete footing and a robber/demolition trench which can be associated with the 1950s demolition of the post-medieval mill building. A test pit excavated in Trench 1 revealed a stratigraphy comprising post-medieval make-up and levelling layers, possibly deposited to consolidate and raise the area on which the post-medieval mill was constructed. No evidence for an earlier mill structure was present

{8} Post medieval stone and brick buildings. The largest building still contains mill machinery. It has a large chimney for the steam engine which was used at one time. Only one shaft of the external wheel remains and most of the machinery is now missing. Used for corn grinding.

{11} Thrapston Mill (corn), River Nene. Thrapston Mill shown on maps of 1900 and possibly 1950 has now been demolished. A brick chimney still remains standing in Mill Marina and it would appear likely that this was related to the mill complex. Film 2, photo 22.

<1> The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN10247.

<2> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN100366.

<3> Foard G., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Thrapston (Medieval + Post Medieval), (checked) (Digital archive). SNN100460.

<4> 1781 (circa), Thrapston Inclosure Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100461.

<5> STARMER G., 2002?, Northamptonshire Watermills Survey 2001 - 2002 (A-H), p.118 (checked) (Report). SNN105520.

<7> Williamson, I., 2005, Mill Marina, Midland Road, Thrapston, Northamptonshire: An Archaeological Field Evaluation (Report). SNN108450.

<8> Starmer G.H., 1982, National Register of Industrial Monuments, (part checked) (Catalogue). SNN563.

<9> Starmer G.H., 1964, CBA Record Cards: Industrial Archaeology in Northamptonshire, Recorded by GH Starmer, 27-Jul-1964, Record No.308312 (Recording Form (Not SMR)). SNN1647.

<10> Starmer G.H., 1973, National Register of Industrial Monuments, (part checked) (Catalogue). SNN571.

<11> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Industrial Period, (checked) (Digital archive). SNN4.

<12> Historic England, Undated, National Record of Industrial Monuments (NRIM): Index Cards, NRI01 (Archive). SNN113469.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:30PM