Building record 6274/1/1 - Upton Mill House, Mill & Attached Bridge

Water mill and house. Dated 1815, altered C20. Coursed squared ironstone, slate roof, brick end and ridge stacks.

{1} Post medieval watermill; mill building still standing.

{2} During the reign of Edward I the mill was valued at £15; during ensuing years the mill passed from royal hands to the family of Sir Thomas Samwell. In 1790 the nephew of Sir Thomas became the owner. In 1812 the owner was Mrs William Handson of Upton Manor and tenancy was taken over by the Spokes family who still live there. In 1815 the mill house and living quarters were demolished and rebuilt in Duston Stone. In 1817 it was reported that the mill was independent of Northampton market. It was undertaking gristing of single bushels of wheat from farm labourers and small farmers. The miller also sent a horse and van around the district every week collecting grist and delivering flour. The miller was paid 6d per bushel for wheat and 4.5d for barley for this service. The mill ceased to be used for grinding in 1900.

In 1815 the old mill house and living quarters were demolished and rebuilt in Duston stone. In 1849 a new mill-wheel was installed. This was 14ft in diameter and cost £48.10s. The old mill is no longer used.

{3} Water mill and house. Dated 1815, altered C20. Coursed squared ironstone, slate roof, brick end and ridge stacks. 4-unit plan. 3-storey, 4-window range. Main front faces mill pond to south and has stable doors to centre and far left with wood lintels. Plank loft door to first floor left with wood lintel, otherwise 2-light casement windows to ground and first floors with wood lintels. Plinth, quoins and stone-coped gables with kneelers. Datestone in right gable inscribed TSWS/1815. Domestic part right of centre with 2-storey lean-to extension to rear and C20 entrance to right side. Initials on datestone are those of Thomas Samwell Watson Samwell. Road in front of mill and mill house crosses mill-stream on attached elliptical-arched ironstone bridge.

{5} History of site and descriptions of buildings. The significance of this mill is the almost seamless connection between the mill and the mill house. It is an example of the scale of domestic provision for a working miller and his family, contrasting with the accomodation for the owner of the mill.

{10} Undated photo;

{11} The mill was in the continuous tenancy of the Spokes family from 1812 until at least 2020. In 1812 the earlier mill still stood; it is recorded as having been thatched with a ridge height of only 16ft (4.87m) and eaves height of 10ft (c3m). It was replaced by the current building in 1815. It is the work of the mason-builder William Burgess who inscribed his name on the front façade.

{12} Two photos dated 1990;

Starmer G.H., 1973, National Register of Industrial Monuments (Catalogue). SNN571.

<1> Starmer G.H., 1982, National Register of Industrial Monuments, (part checked) (Catalogue). SNN563.

<2> NORTHAMPTON BOROUGH COUNCIL, 1987, Watermills in Northampton: History & Survivals, p.3 (checked) (Booklet). SNN15540.

<3> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 2/16 (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<4> 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), L10 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN1000.

<5> STARMER G., 2002?, Northamptonshire Watermills Survey 2001 - 2002 (H-Z), p.121 (unchecked) (Report). SNN105521.

<6> Ballinger, J., 2001, Upton Mill, (checked) (Photographs). SNN106783.

<8> Thorn F.; Thorn C., 1979, Domesday Book: A Survey of The Counties of England, (unchecked) (Series). SNN1170.

<9> Brown, J., 2005, The flood storage reservoir, Upton Mill, Upton, Northamptonshire: An archaeological desk-based assessment June 2005, p.9 (checked) (Report). SNN108013.

<10> Photographs of buildings in Upton (Photographs). SNN113623.

<11> Wilson, M, 2022, Conversion of Stables Outbuilding to Domestic Annexe at Upton Mill House, Upton Lane, West Northamptonshire NN5 4UY: Historic Building Impact Assessment (Report). SNN114631.

<12> Photographs of buildings in Northampton (Photographs). SNN114989.

Record last edited

Nov 16 2023 11:00AM