Monument record 6426/1/1 - Clifford Hill Mill

At Domesday one mill is recorded at Houghton. There are medieval and post-medieval records for the mill. In 1940, the mill was taken over by Rousselot Gelatine. The mill was demolished after gelatine manufacture ceased in 1986. The large mill pond and tail-pond survive.

{1}Mentioned as having belonged to Countess Judith

{2} In 1166 part of mill was bestowed on Biddlesden Abbey in Buckinghamshire; in 1396 2 mills are recorded, run by St Andrew's Priory; at Dissolution in 1538 "3 good mills at Clifford"; shortly after this time one mill came into possession of Monk family; during ensuing years mill changed hands & finally taken over by Mr F.A.Mead; in 1894 both water & steam used to power mill; in 1927 Mr Mead tried to sell mill by auction but was withdrawn at £2500 just short of reserve price; in 1937 mill fell into disuse. In 1938 site was taken over by Rousselot Gelatine Ltd; installed water turbine for generation of electricity which was not successful & replaced by steam engine; In 1986 mill was demolished.

The mill site on the south side of the natural course of the river (south of the 1760s lock for the navigation) has been cleared and landscaped. The large mill pond and tail pond survive, the weir between them possibly indicating the head available for the former waterwheels and turbines.

<1> Thorn F.; Thorn C., 1979, Domesday Book: A Survey of The Counties of England, (unchecked) (Series). SNN1170.

<2> NORTHAMPTON BOROUGH COUNCIL, 1987, Watermills in Northampton: History & Survivals, p.6 (checked) (Booklet). SNN15540.

<3> STARMER G., 2002?, Northamptonshire Watermills Survey 2001 - 2002 (H-Z), p.74 (unchecked) (Report). SNN105521.

Record last edited

Oct 15 2020 2:59PM