Wikipedia list article
The use of water power in Britain was at its peak just before the Industrial Revolution. The need for power was great and steam power had not yet become established. It is estimated that at this time there were well in excess of ten thousand watermills in the country. Most of these were corn mills (to grind flour), but almost any industrial process needing motive power, beyond that available from the muscles of men or animals, used a water wheel, unless a windmill was preferred.
Today only a fraction of these mills survive. Many are used as private residences, or have been converted into offices or flats. A number have been preserved or restored as museums where the public can see the mill in operation.
Kingsbury Watermill Museum, St Albans
This is a list of some of the surviving watermills and tide mills in the United Kingdom.
"The Lesson of the Water Mill"
Listen to the water mill
Through the livelong day;
How the clicking of the wheel
Wears the hours away.
Languidly the autumn wind
Stirs the withered leaves;
On the field the reapers sing
Binding up the sheaves;
And a proverb haunts my mind
And as a spell is cast,
"The mill will never grind
With the water that has passed."
Sarah Doudney,
From "Puck's Song"
See yon our little mill that clacks
so busy by the brook,
She has ground her corn and paid her tax
ever since Domesday Book.
Rudyard Kipling,
England
Bedfordshire
Stotfold Mill, Bedfordshire
Berkshire
Chamberhouse Mill, Berkshire
- Abbey Mill, Reading
- Calcot Mill, Reading
- Chamberhouse Mill, Thatcham
- Dun Mill, Hungerford[1]
- Denford Mill, Hungerford[1]
- Eddington Mill, Hungerford[2]
- Hungerford Mill, Thatcham
- Sandford Mill, Reading
- Sindlesham Mill, Reading
- Twyford Mill, Twyford
- Watermill Theatre, Bagnor
Buckinghamshire
Hambleden Mill, Buckinghamshire
Cambridgeshire
Houghton Mill, Cambridgeshire
- Elton Mill, Elton
- Hauxton Mill, Hauxton
- Hinxton Mill, Hinxton
- Hook’s Mill, Guilden Morden
- Houghton Mill, Houghton
- Lode Watermill, Lode
- Maxey Mill, Maxey
- Old Mill, Water Newton
- Topcliffe Mill, Meldreth
- Sacrewell Mill, Peterborough
- Soham Mill, Soham
Cheshire
Quarry Bank Mill, Cheshire
- Bunbury Mill, Bunbury
- Church Minshull Mill, Church Minshull
- Dee Mills - site of, Chester
- Dunham Massey Sawmill, Altrincham
- Nantwich Mill, Nantwich
- Nether Alderley Mill, Macclesfield
- Quarry Bank Mill, Styal
- Stretton Watermill, Stretton
- Trafford Mill, Mickle Trafford, Chester
- Walk Mill, Waverton, Cheshire[3] Built 2008
Cornwall
- Bar Pool Mill, Falmouth
- Boscastle Mill, Boscastle
- Carbeal Tide Mill, Torpoint
- Carthew Mill, Carthew
- Cotehele Mill, Calstock
- Dinham Tide Mill, St Minver
- Gerrans Sea Mill, Gerrans
- Heskyn Mill, Tideford
- Hingham Mill, near Wadebridge
- Kestle Mill, Kestle
- Little Petherick Creek tide mill, Little Petherick
- Melinsay Mill, Veryan
- Penpoll tidemill, Feock
- Perranarworthal Manor Mill, Perranarworthal
- Poltesco Higher Mill, Ruan Minor
- Poltesco Lower Mill, Ruan Minor
- Polvellan or Pool Tide Mill, Looe
- Poughill Mill, Bude
- Salter Tide Mill, Saltash
- Tregarus Mill St Stephen
- Tregidden Mill, Tregidden
- Tregoose Old Mill St Columb Major
- Trevillett Mill, Tintagel
- Treway Mill, Zennor
- Wheal Martyn, Carthew
Cumbria
Stott Park Bobbin Mill, Cumbria
- Acorn Bank Mill, Penrith
- Beckside Mill, Kirkby-in-Furness
- Blennerhassett Mill, Aspatria
- Brampton Mill, Appleby
- Boot Watermill, Eskdale[4]
- Gleaston Water Mill, Ulverston[5]
- Heron Corn Mill, Milnthorpe[6]
- High Mill, Alston
- Little Salkeld Watermill, Penrith[7]
- Muncaster Mill, Ravenglass
- Old Fulling Mill, Ambleside
- Rutter Mill, Great Asby
- Sparket Mill, Hutton
- Stott Park Bobbin Mill, Ulverston
- Wythop Mill, Embleton
Derbyshire
Stainsby Mill, Derbyshire
Devon
- Bicclescombe Mill, Ilfracombe
- Bicklegh Mill, Tiverton
- Clyston Mill, Broadclyst
- Coldharbour Mill, Cullompton
- Docton Mill, Hartland
- Finch Foundry, Okehampton
- Hele Mill, Hele Bay, Ilfracombe
- Manor Mill, Seaton
- Morwellham Quay, Gunnislake
- Otterton Mill, Budleigh Salterton
- Sidbury Mill, Sidbury
- Town Mills, Chudleigh
- Town Mill, Totnes
Dorset
- Boar Mill, Corfe Castle
- Cann Mill, Shaftesbury
- Castleton Water Wheel Museum, Sherborne
- Hembury Mill,[8] Askerswell
- King's Mill, Marnhull
- Loverley Mill, Moor Crichel
- Maiden Newton Mill, Maiden Newton
- Mangerton Mill, Bridport
- Melbury Abbas Mill Shaftesbury
- Pegg's Farm Mill, Iwerne Minster
- Place Mill, Christchurch
- Sturminster Newton Mill, Sturminster Newton
- Town Mill, Lyme Regis
- White Mill, Sturminster Marshall
- Upwey Mill, Weymouth
Durham
East Sussex
Sheffield Mill, East Sussex
East Yorkshire
Stamford Bridge Mill, East Yorkshire
Essex
- Alderford Mill, Sible Hedingham
- Beeleigh Mill, Maldon
- Bourne Mill, Colchester
- Easterford Mill, Kelvedon
- Fyfield Mill, Fyfield
- Harlow Mill, Harlow
- Little Hallingbury Mill, Little Hallingbury
- Little Parndon Mill, Little Parndon
- Roydon Mill, Roydon
- Thorrington Tide Mill, Thorrington
Gloucestershire
Egypt Mill, Gloucestershire
- Arlington Mill, Bibury
- Dean Heritage Centre, Cinderford
- Egypt Mill, Nailsworth
- Kilcott Mill, Hillesley
- Little Aston Mill, Upper Slaughter
- Old Mill, Lower Slaughter
- Owlpen Manor, Owlpen
- Stanway Watermill, Stanway, Cheltenham
- Syreford Mill, Andoversford
Greater London
Clock Mill, Greater London
Hampshire
- Abbey Mill, Bishops Waltham
- Abbey Mill, Winchester
- Alderholt Mill, Fordingbridge
- Anstey Mill, Alton
- Ashlett Mill, Fawley
- Barton’s Mill, Old Basing
- Beaulieu Tide Mill, Beaulieu
- Beaurepair Mill, Sherborne St John
- Botley Mill, Botley
- Bourne Mill, Farnham
- Bourne Place Mill, Farnham
- Chase Mill, Bishops Waltham
- Chesapeake Mill, Wickham, Hampshire
- Durley Mill, Botley
- Eling Tide Mill, Eling
- Fulling Mill, Old Alresford
- Gaters Mill, West End
- Greatham Mill, Greatham
- Greywell Mill, Greywell
- Hartley Mill, Hartley Wespall
- Hatch Mill, Farnham
- Headley Water Mill, Headley
- High Mill, Farnham
- Hockley Mill, Twyford
- Isington Mill, Binstead
- Laverstoke Mill, Laverstoke
- Longbridge Mill, Sherfield on Loddon
- Lower Mill, Old Basing
- Lower Neatham Mill, Alton
- Monxton Mill, Monxton
- New Mill, Eversley
- Old Mill, Selborne
- Paulton's Park Sawmill, Paultons Park
- Pilcot Mill Dogmersfield
- Quay Mill, Emsworth
- Rooksbury Mill, Andover
- St Cross Mill, Winchester
- Sadler's Mill, Romsey
- Shawford Mill, Shawford
- Town Mills, Andover
- Turk's Farm Mill, Bentley, Hampshire
- Upper Mill, Longparish
- Weir Mill, Old Alresford
- Whitchurch Silk Mill, Whitchurch
- Willey Mill, Farnham
- Winchester City Mill, Winchester
- Woodmill, Southampton
Hertfordshire
Redbournbury Mill, Hertfordshire
Isle of Wight
Yafford Mill, Isle of Wight
Kent
- Ashbourne Mill, Tenterden
- Bartley Mill, Frant
- Bradley's Mill, Speldhurst
- Chilham Mill, Chilham
- Christmas Mill, Edenbridge
- Crabble Corn Mill, Dover
- Chart Gunpowder Mills, Faversham
- Furnace Mill, Lamberhurst
- Hever Watermill, Hever (Medway)
- Hope Mill, Goudhurst
- Hythe Watermill, Hythe
- Periwinkle Mill, Milton Regis
- Swanton Mill, Mersham (Stour)
- Ryarsh Mill, Ryarsh (Medway)
- Wandle Mill, Benenden
Lancashire
Leicestershire
Cotes Mill, Leicestershire
Lincolnshire
Cogglesford Mill, Lincolnshire
- Alvingham Mill, Alvingham
- Atkin's Mill, Scopwick
- Baines Mill, Louth
- Baldock's Mill, Bourne
- Bridge Street Mill, Louth
- Church Mill, Market Rasen
- Claypole Mill, Claypole
- Claythorpe Mill, Aby
- Cogglesford Mill, Sleaford
- Crown Mill, Louth
- Hibaldstow Wind and Water Mill, Hibaldstow
- Holdingham Mill, Holdingham
- Hubbards Hill Mill, Louth
- Hudd's Mill, Stamford
- James Street Mill, Louth
- Ketsby Mill, South Ormsby
- King's Mill, Stamford
- Londonthorpe Mill, Manthorpe
- Manor Mill, Kirkby Green
- Molecey's Mill West Deeping
- Spittlegate Mill, Grantham
- Stevenson's Mill, Horncastle
- Stockwith Mill, Hagworthingham
- Tealby Thorpe Mill, Tealby
- Tetford Mill, Tetford
- Thoresway Waterwheel, Thoresway
- Tyson's Mill, Tealby
- Westgate Mill, Louth
- Whitton's Mill, Gainsborough
- Young's Mill, Kirkby Green
Norfolk
Caley Mill aka Heacham Mill, Norfolk
Northamptonshire
HardwaterMill, Northamptonshire
North Yorkshire
Gayle Mill, North Yorkshire
- Darley Mill Centre, Nidderdale
- Esk Mill, Danby
- Fountains Abbey Mill, Ripon
- Gayle Mill, Hawes, Wensleydale[9]
- Howsham Mill, Malton
- Low Mill, Bainbridge
- Pateley Bridge Watermill, Nidderdale
- Raindale Mill, York
- Tocketts Mill, Guisborough
Northumberland
Ridley Mill, Northumberland
Nottinghamshire
Oxfordshire
Mapledurham Watermill, Oxfordshire
- Ascott Mill, Ascott-under-Wychwood
- Bliss Tweed Mill, Chipping Norton
- Charney Mill, Charney Bassett
- Church Mill, Standlake
- Combe Mill, Long Hanborough
- Goring Mill, Goring-on-Thames
- Little Clanfield Mill, Clanfield
- Lower Kingstone Mill, Ashbury
- Mapledurham Watermill, Mapledurham
- The Mill at Sonning, Sonning Eye
- Standhampton Mill, Stadhampton
- Venn Mill, Garford
- Wroxton Mill, Wroxton
Shropshire
Daniel's Mill, Shropshire
Somerset
- Bishop's Lydeard Mill, Bishops Lydeard
- Burcott Mill, Burcot
- Clapton Mill, Ston Easton
- Claverton Pumping Station, Claverton
- Combe House Hotel (originally a tannery) Holford
- Combe Sydenham Mill, Combe Sydenham
- Dunster Working Watermill, Dunster
- Gants Mill, Pitcombe
- Hestercombe Mill, West Monkton
- Hinton Farm Mill, Mudford
- Hornsbury Mill, Chard
- Orchard Mill, Williton
- Piles Mill, Allerford
- Priston Mill, Priston
- Rode Mill, Rode
- Saltford Brass Mill, Saltford
- Stratford Mill, Henbury
- Tonedale Mills, Wellington
- Williton Mill, Williton
- Wookey Hole Paper Mill, Wells
South Yorkshire
Worsbrough Mill, South Yorkshire
Staffordshire
Brindley Mill, Staffordshire
- Boar Mill, Moddershall
- Brindley Water Mill, Leek
- Cheddleton Flint Mill, Cheddleton
- Coppice Mill, Stone
- Flint Mill, Stone
- Hayes Mill, Oulton
- Ivy Mill, Oulton
- Little Aston Mill, Little Aston
- Mosty Lea Mill, Moddershall
- Offley Mill, Staffordshire
- Shugborough Estate Mill, Shugborough Hall, Stafford
- Splashy Mill, Lower Moddershall
- Weaver's Mill, Stone
- Worston Mill, Great Bridgeford
Suffolk
Surrey
- Abbey Mill, Eashing
- Albury Mill, Albury
- Botting’s Mill, Postford
- Cobham Mill, Cobham
- Cosford Mill, Thursley
- Coxes Lock Mill, Addlestone
- Eashing Mill, Eashing
- Elstead Mill, Elstead
- Enton Mill, Witley
- Gresham Mill, Old Woking
- Gomshall Mill, Gomshall
- Hatch Mill, Godalming
- Haxted Watermill, near Edenbridge
- Heath Mill, Worplesdon
- Netley Mill, Shere
- Ockford Mill, Godalming
- Ockham Mill, Ockham
- Old Castle Mill, Pixham
- Paddington Mill, Abinger
- Pirbright Mill, Pirbright
- Pixham Mill, Dorking
- Rickford's Mill, Worplesdon
- Shalford Mill, Guildford
- Sickle Mill, Shottermill
- Snowdenham Mill, Bramley
- Stanford Mill, Haslemere
- Stoke Mill, Guildford
- Town Mill, Guildford
- Unwin's Mill, Old Woking
- Upper Mill, Ewell
- Wonersh Mill, Wonersh
Tyne and Wear
Path Head Water Mill, Tyne and Wear
Warwickshire
Wellesbourne Water Mill, Warwickshire
West Midlands
Sarehole Mill, West Midlands
West Sussex
Westhampnett Mill, West Sussex
West Yorkshire
Armley Mills, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Wiltshire
Worcestershire
Forge Mill, Worcestershire
Scotland
Aberdeenshire
Mill of Benholm, Aberdeenshire
Angus
Dumfries and Galloway
East Ayrshire
Aiket Mill, East Ayrshire
- Aiket Mill, Dunlop
- Bloak Mill, Dunlop
- Busbie Mill, Knockentiber
- Dalmore Mill, Stair
- Dalmusternock Mill
- Drumastle Mill, Dalry
- Giffen Mill, Barrmill
- Kilmaurs Mill, Kilmaurs
- Ladeside Mill, Mauchline
- Laigh Milton Mill, Gatehead
- Lainshaw Mill, Stewarton
- Lambroch Mill, Stewarton
- Old or Commoncraigs Mill, Dunlop
East Lothian
Preston Mill, East Lothian
East Renfrewshire
Highlands
Click Mill, Kingussie
Lanarkshire
Moray
North Ayrshire
Dalgarven Mill, North Ayrshire
Giffen Mill, North Ayrshire
- Bark Mill, Beith
- Broadstone Mill, Barrmill
- Cavan Mill, Auchentiber
- Coldstream Mill, Beith
- Craigmill, Dalry
- Cranshaw Mill, Kilmaurs
- Crevoch Mill, Dunlop
- Cunninghamhead Mill, Cunninghamhead
- Dalgarven Mill, Kilwinning
- Drumastle Mill, Dalry
- Drumbuie Mill, Barrmill
- East Kersland Mill, Dalry
- Giffen Mill, Barrmill
- Giffordland Mill, Dalry
- Kersland Mill, Beith
- Mill o'Beith, Beith
- Nethermill, Kilbirnie
- Perceton Mill, Irvine
- Sevenacres Mill, Kilwinning
- Stevenston Corn Mill
Orkney
Dounby Click Mill, Orkney
Perthshire
Stanley Mills, Perthshire
Renfrewshire
Meikle Millbank Mill, Renfrewshire
Scottish Borders
Robert Small’s Printing Works, Innerleithen
Shetland
South Ayrshire
Millmannoch Mill in the 18th century, South Ayrshire
Western Isles
West Lothian
Livingston Mill, Livingston
Northern Ireland
County Antrim
County Down
Coalisland Mill, County Down
County Fermanagh
County Tyrone
Ballynasaggart, County Tyrone
Wales
Clwyd
- Bersham Ironworks, Bersham
- Corn Mill, Llangollen
- Felin Isaf, Glan Conwy
- Gresford Mill, Gresford
- King's Mill, Wrexham
- Marford Mill, Rossett
- Minera Lead Mine, Coedpoeth
- Nant Mill, Coedpoeth
- Penmachno Woollen Mill, Penmachno
- Pentrifoelas Mill, Pentrefoelas
- Rossett Mill, Rossett
- Trefriw Woollen Mill, Trefriw
Dyfed
Y Felin, St Dogmaels, Dyfed
- Blackpool Mill, Martletwy
- Cambrian Mill, Dre-fach Felindre
- Carew Tidal Mill, Carew
- Cenarth Mill, Cenarth
- Denant Mill, Dreenhill
- Dre-fach Felindre
- Dyfi Furnace, Furnace
- Felin Ganol, Llanrhystud
- Felin Geri, Cwm Cou
- Felin Hesgwm, Dinas Cross
- Felin Newydd, Crugybar
- Felin yr Aber Llanwnnen
- Llywernog Mine, Llywernog
- Middle Mill, Solva
- Nant y Coy Mill, Wolf's Castle
- Rock Mill, Llandysul
- Tide Mill, Carew
- Tide Mill, Pembroke
- Tregwynt Woollen Mill, Castlemorris
- Y Felin, St. Dogmaels
Gwent
Gwynedd
Mid Glamorgan
Powys
South Glamorgan
Esgair Moel, South Glamorgan
West Glamorgan
Channel Islands
Guernsey
Jersey
Le Moulin de Quétivel, Jersey
Isle of Man
Groudle Glen, Isle of Man
See also
References
Bibliography
- Martin Watts: Watermills, Shire Publications Ltd, UK, 2006
- Jim Woodward-Nutt & Jenny West: Mills Open, Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, UK, 1997
- Neil Wright (Ed), Lincolnshire's Industrial Heritage, Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology, UK 2004, ISBN 0 903582 20 1