Monument record 6560/1 - Ditchford Mill

The earliest reference to Ditchford Mill was in 1248. It was rebuilt in 1420-1 and again in 1850. Seems to have been demolished

{1} History:
1086 Domesday survey records Cnutestone (Knuston) with one mill rendering 20s and another 8d. The medieval estate boundaries within Irchester parish indicate that Knuston's mill could have been the site of what was later called Ditchford Mill
1248 Reference to Ditchford Mill
1282 Dickford Mulnes, bought by Edmund, the king's brother, from Henry le Scot of Abbots Leigh
1421-2 Mill rebuilt at a cost of £34 8s 7.5d
1544-5 Reference to two watermills under one roof called Dicheford Myll
1672 Three watermills under one roof called Mitchford Mills were an appurtenance of the Royal Manor of Higham Ferrers
1824 Ditchford Mill "now in full trade" advertised for sale, having granaries capable of storing 500 quarters
1844 Mill had two waterwheels working five pairs of stones
c.1850 Mill rebuilt
1898 Driven by water and steam
1940 Mill still used for corn milling but after WWII site taken over for processing animal waste.

Most recent rebuilding of mill was in c.1850 - three storeys high, floor of 3 inch planks, supported by massive beams and cast iron pillars. Described as having four floors in 1879. Fourth storey removed and gabled roof supplied after WWII. 2001: gable roof of corrugated asbestos sheets. Observation of details not possible. Building is an interesting example of up dating a traditional mill to accommodate the improved milling techniques developed during the latter part of the C19th. Building is likely to be demolished.

{3} Unable to see clearly from available imagery but looks as though building has been demolished.

<1> STARMER G., 2002?, Northamptonshire Watermills Survey 2001 - 2002 (A-H), p.41 (checked) (Report). SNN105520.

<2> MLM Environmental, 2004, Wellingborough East Geo-Environmental Assessment: Southern Routes, (unchecked) (Report). SNN106516.

<3> Info Terra Ltd; Blue Sky; Tele Atlas; Getmapping, 2009, Google Earth Imagery, 15/9/11 (checked) (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN106618.

Record last edited

Oct 2 2020 1:33PM