Monument record 4360/1 - Walgrave Mill

The possible site of a 16th century watermill. The mill is demolished. The remains have been much damaged by later activity, but traces of a long, triangular pond lie south-east of and parallel to the existing stream.

{1} Site of Watermill (SP 79337205), W. of the village in the bottom of a valley draining to the S., on Upper Lias Clay at 99m above OD. The remains have been much damaged by later activity, but traces of a long, triangular pond lie south-east of and parallel to the existing stream. On maps of 1778 and 1792 the pond is shown as still water-filled, with a building, presumably the mill, to the south-west. The mill may still have been in use in 1834 when it is shown on first edition OS mapping.

{2} Located on a brook feeding into the north-east end of Pitsford Reservoir. It is close to the site of the windmill. A miller (George Cheshire) is first documented in 1599. Although mentioned in 1811 there is no listing of a miller at Walgrave on the 1861 census. In 1871 the occupant of the mill house is listed only as an agricultural labourer. The site was visited in 2002, but close access was not possible. The remains noted by RCHME were not apparent from a distance, however it is likely that there is evidence of the mill below ground level.

{5} This may be the watermill referred to in the C16th as belonging to the Manor of Walgrave.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.149-50 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<2> STARMER G., 2002?, Northamptonshire Watermills Survey 2001 - 2002 (H-Z), p.123 (part checked) (Report). SNN105521.

<3> 1778, Map of Walgrave, (unchecked) (Map). SNN25740.

<4> 1792, Map of Walgrave, (unchecked) (Map). SNN25741.

<5> Salzman L.F.(ed), 1937, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.218 No.23 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100371.

<6> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 1" 1834 (Map). SNN112944.

<7> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, AP (RAF VAP CPE/UK/1925 2226-7) (Photographs). SNN104890.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 8:16PM