Monument record 6265/1 - Great Billing Mill, Billing Bridge Mill

A mill was recorded here at Domesday. In the 12th century it was granted to ST James' Abbey and in the 13th century the abbot built a fulling mill. By the 16th century it had reverted to corn milling. In the early 19th century the mill was rebuilt.

{1} A watermill is mentioned at Domesday.

{2} The Abbey of St James' was granted land at Billing including the mill. In 1483 Richard III bestowed the manor of Billing on the Earl of Lincoln and after his death the estate reverted to The Crown. In 1628 the land was sold to descendants of the Irish King of Thomond who came to England in support of Charles I during The Civil War. In 1672 The Dowager Countess of Thomond assigned the manor including water mills to her grandson for £2,600. At this time the mill is known as Billing Bridge Mill. After 1722 the mill changed hands frequently and ultimately it was sold to Robert Carey Elwes of Lincoln.

{3} The miller's man William Chamberlayn slipped off the causeway riding back to Billing Mill from Northampton and was drowned.

{5} In 1274 there was a fulling mill on this site.

{6} History:
1086 At the Domesday survey a mill here was valued at 40s.
12thC Mill bestowed on St. James’s Abbey.
1274 The abbot built a fulling mill at Billing.
16thC By this time, mill had reverted to the manor of Billing.
1672 Dowager Countess of Thomond assigned the manor, including watermills, to her grandson for £2600. At this time, the mill property was known as Billing Bridge Mills.
19thC Early in the century, the mill was rebuilt; by which time it was known merely as Billing Mill.
1940 The mill ceased work and became derelict.
1968 Following restoration with some alterations, building and opened as a Museum of Milling, one of the
attractions in Billing Aquadrome. One of the three sets of stones was removed for the insertion of stairs to
provide public access to the first floor.
C1995 The mill was converted into a bar restaurant and subsequently new buildings added to it.

Documentary sources: John Harris’s 1712 map for Morton’s “Natural History of Northamptonshire” marks it as Little Billing Mill; 1779 Eyre’s map marks it Billing Bridge and Mill; 1813 survey plan for OS marks and 1927 Bryant’s map mark it Billlng Mill.

<1> Thorn F.; Thorn C., 1979, Domesday Book: A Survey of The Counties of England, (unchecked) (Series). SNN1170.

<2> NORTHAMPTON BOROUGH COUNCIL, 1987, Watermills in Northampton: History & Survivals, p.3 (checked) (Booklet). SNN15540.

<3> 1722, The Northampton Mercury, (unchecked) (Journal). SNN15642.

<4> Welcome to Billing Mill, (checked) (Guide). SNN59304.

<5> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 2001, NIAG Industrial Gazetteer, (part checked) (Draft). SNN101121.

<6> STARMER G., 2002?, Northamptonshire Watermills Survey 2001 - 2002 (A-H), p.7 (checked) (Report). SNN105520.

<7> Salzman L.F.(ed), 1937, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.70-1 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100371.

Record last edited

Apr 23 2025 8:22PM