Monument record 1160/38 - Cotton Mill (aka Marvel's Mill, Merewyn's Mill, Town Mill, Perry's Mill)

The corn mill was taken down in 1742 and a new building erected which became the first water-powered cotton mill in the world. Cotton spinning ceased in 1764, the mill later producing paper and flour. The mill was demolished in 1927.

{1} Observation of trenching on the southern approach road in May 1985. A timber pipe 3.1m long and 0.42m diameter was found. Ironstone walls were observed in the trench sides. Due to the proximity of the former mill, they may be associated. Stretch of wall to Cotton Mill survives under the bridge.
Earliest records date back to C12th when known as Marvel's Mill & given to St Andrew's Priory; in 1253 known as Merewyn's Mill; following Dissolution in 1538 mill was acquired by town; in 1742 was known as Town Mill & was bought by Edward Cave; in 1830 owned by Perry family & became known as Perry's Mill;

{2} 1108 Charter for St Andrew's Priory renewed. Amonst the additional benefactions as 'a mill without the walls of Northampton, called Mervin's mill'.
1539 At Dissolution, St Andrew's surrendered its properties and Merewyns mill was acquired by the Borough of Northampton.
1656 Assembly of Borough of Northampton appointed trustees for the 'improvement and advantage' of Marvell's mills and procured timber for the repair of the mills.
1672 Thomas Dent, miller at Marvell mills and the windmill was granted a lease of them for 7 years at a yearly rent of £38.
1685 Corporation sold the mills.
1742 The corn-mill was taken down and a new building erected to contain machines for the spinning of cotton. This was the first water-powered cotton mill in the world.
1764 Cotton spinning ceased at the mills.
1783 Francis Hayes, papermaker, insured his utensils and stock in his paper mill called Marvill's Mill.
1785 Francis Hayes, paper maker, haberdasher and cotton manufacturuer insured his utensils and stock in his paper mill and cotton manufactory, under one roof, called Marvill's Mill.
1797 Gibson & Forbes, proprietors of the Cotton Mills, arranged for Boulton & Watt to install a beam engine in their mills. (this was the first steam engine in the town, although second to Sulgrave Mill in the county).
1806 Mill reverted to corn grinding.
1810 Advertisement for sale of two pair of French stones, one pair of peak stones and one pair of Cullen stones 'on the premises known as the Cotton-Mill, in Northampton.
1812 The Boulton & Watt steam engine at the mill purchased by the Grand Union Canal Company to help pumping during the construction of Bosworth Tunnel.
1820 John Perry of Marvill Mill, decribed as three storeys high, brick and tile and three pairs of stones, insured his stock-in-trade for £600 and millstones and standing and going machinery, for £400.
1885 By this time John Perry had been replaced at the now called Town Mills by JF Stops, using water and steam power.
1920 Town Mills, occupied by Stops and Westley, worked by gas engine.
1927 Mills bought by the Corporation and demolished.

{4} Stretch of wall to Cotton Mill survives under the bridge.

{5} Original mill building for corn-grinding was demolished in 1742 after purchased by Edward Cave; new mill contained several machines each with fifty spindles; first power-driven cotton mill in world; early steam engine put in by Bolton and Watt in 1790's; in 1797 steam engine installed; in 1806 mill was converted back to corn grinding & steam engine removed; however by 1906 steam-powered only; mill demolished in 1927. Drawings of the mill, plus some surviving parts of the building displayed at Birmingham County Museum.

{6} The world's first water-driven cotton mill with roller spinning machines was set up here by John Wyatt in 1743. The mill started out with fifty spindles turning on five machines and grew to 250 spindles by 1742. The mill was never a commercial success and closed in 1764.

{9} By 1748 Thomas Yeoman had been resident in Northampton for 5 years and was employed as a millwright at Edward Cave's pioneering cotton mill.

{11} Today a narrow strip of masonry comprising brick and stone extends under the south side of the modern bridge. There are indications that this masonry continues to the west, buried under the river bank.

<1> CHAPMAN A., 1985, Southern Approach Road, Northampton, (unchecked) (SMR Report Form). SNN49453.

<2> STARMER G., 2002?, Northamptonshire Watermills Survey 2001 - 2002 (H-Z), p. 94 (Report). SNN105521.

<3> SITE RECORDS, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN19918.

<4> GIGGINS B.L., 1997, ORAL REPORT TO SMR, (unchecked) (Oral Report). SNN50654.

<5> NORTHAMPTON BOROUGH COUNCIL, 1987, Watermills in Northampton: History & Survivals, p.11 (unchecked) (Booklet). SNN15540.

<6> Saint, D., 2009, County's Cotton Mill Claim To Fame, (checked) (Newspaper cuttings). SNN107640.

<7> Harrison J., 2003, A Plan Devised in Northampton 250 Years Ago is Still Being Put Into Practice, p.56-61 (unchecked) (Article). SNN109363.

<8> Bates D.L., 1997, Cotton-Spinning in Northampton: Edward Cave's Mill, 1742-1761, p.237-51 (unchecked) (Article). SNN109384.

<9> Bates D.L., 2000, Naturae Accedere Partes: The Northampton Philosophical Society Revisited, p.19-30 (unchecked) (Article). SNN102512.

<10> Speed J., 1610, Map of Northamptonshire, (checked) (Map). SNN559.

<11> Cadman, G, 2014, Northampton Town Mill, p. 413-414 (Note). SNN114652.

<11> Cadman, G, 2021, Northampton Town Mill, p. 413-414 (Note). SNN112928.

<12> Howes, H, 2022, Water and Steam Mills of Northamptonshire…and the birth of a flourishing flour milling industry, p. 2-3 (Book). SNN114227.

<13> Bates D.L., 1998, Cotton-spinning in Northampton: the Gibson & Forbes Mill, 1785-1806, p.237-51 (unchecked) (Article). SNN116787.

Record last edited

Apr 23 2025 8:13PM