Monument record 6246/1 - Victoria Mills (J.B. & Wentworth Whitworth, Whitworth Bros Ltd)

Large flour mills which used steam power from their inception in the early 20th century. The grain silos, drying rooms and other buildings on the north side of the site were erected during the Second World War, but older buildings still remain.

{1} Victoria Mills, Little Irchester. J.B. & Wentworth Whitworth established a stone ground mill at Little Irchester in the 1880's shortly after their previous site in Bedfordshire had burnt down. It was one of the most modern mills at the time as it made use of steel rollers to crush the wheat into small grains. The mill was located by the River Nene with a main road and railway line in close proximity for the easy transportation of grain and flour. The complex is now owned by 'Whitworth Bros Ltd' (Film 16, photos 7-8,24).

{2} J.B. Whitworth started in business at Turvey Mill about 1870, and later purchased a watermill at Newport Pagnell. About 1880 the Turvey mill was burnt down and Whitworth decided to build a steam-driven roller mill. He chose the site at Little Irchester because of its good situation for communications: the River Nene, leading to the Grand Junction Canal, on one side; the railway on the second side; a main road on the third side. This left room to expand on the remaining side. Victoria Mills was built in 1886 and prospered. In 1906 the first steam engine was replaced by a larger engine, which itself was superseded by an even bigger engine in the 1920's. This last engine was taken out in 1958/59, and since then electrical power has been used.

{3} Large flour mills which used steam power from their inception in the early 20th century. The grain silos, drying rooms and other buildings on the north side of the site were erected during the Second World War, but older buildings still remain. Recorded by NRIM, photographed.

<1> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Wellingborough (Industrial), (checked) (Digital archive). SNN100290.

<2> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 1970, Industrial Archaeology In Northamptonshire, p.16 (checked) (Article). SNN103317.

<3> Starmer G.H., 1964, CBA Record Cards: Industrial Archaeology in Northamptonshire, Recorded by GH Starmer, 22-Aug-1964, Record No.NN61 (Recording Form (Not SMR)). SNN1647.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:30PM