Monument record 1270/1/1 - Mill leat/race, Evenley Mill

Excavation on the site of the demolished Evenley Mill identified the former mill race/leat.

{1} A trench was positioned to investigate the possible continuation of an artificial, linear channel that runs along the edge of the floodplain and then ends abruptly in an area of rough, apparently made-ground. This channel is almost certainly the mill leat for Evenley Mill.
The mill leat contained a sequence of deposits that were difficult to interpret within the confines of a single trench although it was clear that the deposits had accumulated in a water-filled channel that had subsequently been backfilled.
Deposits within the leat were found up to a depth of 1.4m and comprised clayey deposits which had accumulated when the channel was still active. Above these were soil deposits that had accumulated in a semi-waterlogged environment when the channel had largely silted up. Above these was made ground and finally a layer of clay and limestone cobbles.
The top layer of clay deposit from when the mill was active contained late 17th/ 18th century sherds, window glass and a clay pipe stem. The waterlogged soil above contained fragments of a mid-late 18th century bottle.

{2} On the surface, the mill race earthwork was the only part of the watermill still visible, the site of the mill buildings having been entirely levelled. The mill race crossed the excavated area and curved slightly to the east. It measured approximately 5m wide and the flat base, which measured approximately 3.4m, was reached at 2.45m below the modern ground surface. The sides were approximately 80 degrees and the northern edge was eroded by a former river channel. There was evidence of a period of silting, erosion and possible dredging. The race was deliberately blocked in the late 18th or early 19th century. After backfilling, a timber post had been driven through the deposits.

<1> Carlyle, S., 2009, Archaeological evaluation for the Deanshanger to Greatworth AWS Pipeline near Evenley, Northamptonshire, August 2009, p.6-7 (checked) (Report). SNN106534.

<2> Carlyle, S., 2010, AWS Deanshanger to Greatworth Pipeline: Excavation on the Site of Evenley Mill, Evenley, October 2009, p.7 (checked) (Report). SNN106787.

<3> Horne B. (Editor), 2010, South Midlands Archaeology (40), p.19 (checked) (Journal). SNN107083.

<4> Chapman, P. (Ed.), 2010, Archaeology in Northamptonshire, 2008, p.190 (checked) (Article). SNN107502.

<5> Courtney, P. & Pearce, J. (Eds.), 2011, Post-Medieval Archaeology (45 pt2), 45 pt 2 p.411 (checked) (Journal). SNN109091.

<5> Brooks, A. & Pearce, J. (Eds.), 2013, Post-Medieval Archaeology (47 pt1), 45 pt 2 p.411 (checked) (Journal). SNN109092.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2023 8:59AM