Building record 7864/1 - St James' Mill (also known as Duston Mill or Brown's Mill)

One mill recorded at Domesday for Duston. The present mill building was last used for grinding corn in 1945. Now altered so as to be unrecognisable as a mill.

{1} 1086 Domesday Survey records Dustone with one mill held by William Peverell rendering 20s.
1105 Confirmation of donation of the mill and church at Duston by William Peverel of Nottingham to St James Abbey
1539 Monastery of St James with all its appurtenances (including the mill) surrendered to the king's commissioners.
1558 Two watermills under one roof, formerly in the possesion of St James Abbey were sold to Francis Samwell, for £206.
1703 'The mill cannot go long for it is very ruines'.
1785 James and Joseph Brown, millers and bakers, insured on a mill, millhouse and stables all adjoining and thatched, in Duston for £60 and the utensils and stock therein for £140.
1813 Mill advertised for sale, carrying two pairs of stones.
1883 St James End Mill advertised for sale containing five pairs of stones, well supplied with water and also worked with a 10 horse power steam engine, with elevators to raise the flour to the top of the mill. The tenants were messrs Beesley & Sons.
Mr Whitworth of Olney purchased the property in June for a sum bordering on £4000.
The following month the interior and all machinery were destroyed in a fire.
1884 Mill re-fitted by Groom of Eastcote
1890 Francis Beesley & Sons, St James End Mills worked by water and steam.
1898 Described as St James Roller Mills.
1920 Northampton Flour Mills, Ltd (electric power)
1945 Last used for grinding corn by waterwheel when Latimer & Crick owned the mill. On the death of Mr Latimer, mill sold to R White-Lant (soft drinks company) who removed the water wheel and milling machinery to use building as a store.
1960s Building still retained a 'mill' appearance but subsequent occupiers have altered the fenestration.

<1> STARMER G., 2002?, Northamptonshire Watermills Survey 2001 - 2002 (A-H), p. 46 (Report). SNN105520.

Record last edited

Feb 20 2025 4:09PM