Monument record 759/1/1 - Maidford Mill

The mill was described as derelict in 1928. The mill was finally demolished and the site cleared c1966.

{1} Post medieval stone building with brick around the wheel and a blue tile roof. The waterwheel had 24 paddles and a wooden shaft.

{5} Site of watermill (SP 605 519) south west of the village, on the parish boundary, on Upper Lias Clay at 130m above OD. The mill buildings survived until a few years ago and their foundations are still visible. A broad mill leat or pond, now dry, to the north of these buildings extends along the contour, well above the stream. The site is shown correctly on OS 1:2500 plans.

{6} The site was levelled in 1982. A surface scatter of modern brick is visible, as is the stone-lined wheel pit.

{7} 1724 Bridges states 'There are in (Maidford) forty nine houses, whereof one is a fulling mill'.
1762 Advertisement for sale of an estate at Maidfrd included a water-mill.
1810 Advertisement for sale of an estate at Maidford included a dwelling house with an overshot corn mill.
1822 Mr Job Wilson, miller, Maidford insured £100 on his dwelling house and £50 on a water corn mill, near but separate.
1858 Messuage and water corn mill, with Mill Dam Mill Holmes etc for sale.
1871 Notice of sale of water and steam mill at Maidford, proprietor Mr William Cook, Blakesley.
1906 Thomas Healey, last miller to be recorded at Maidford in trade directories.
1928 Mill described as derelict.
1966 Roof and some walls had fallen in; the end walls appeared to have recently been pushed in. Remains of 9ft diameter overshot waterwheel.
Mill subsequently demolished and cleared but leat remained. Later, leat filled in.
Destruction of the leat and landscaping over its route now makes it difficut to accurately locate the site but some evidence of the mill might remain below ground level.

<1> Starmer G.H., 1967, CBA Record Cards: Industrial Archaeology in Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Recording Form (Not SMR)). SNN565.

<2> Starmer G.H., 1973, National Register of Industrial Monuments, Recorded by JK Major, 07-Apr-1969, Record No.308313 (Catalogue). SNN571.

<3> Starmer G.H., 1982, National Register of Industrial Monuments, (part checked) (Catalogue). SNN563.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1880s, First Edition OS 6 Inch Mapping Series (50SE), (part checked) (Map). SNN105629.

<5> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.97-8 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<6> Foard G.F., 1982?, Oral Report to SMR, (checked) (Oral Report). SNN105792.

<7> STARMER G., 2002?, Northamptonshire Watermills Survey 2001 - 2002 (H-Z), p. 89 (Report). SNN105521.

<8> Historic England, Undated, National Record of Industrial Monuments (NRIM): Index Cards (Archive). SNN113469.

Record last edited

Jul 25 2022 10:56AM