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. At least one is now a whiskey distillery, and another is a gin distillery. A number have been preserved or restored as museums where the public can see the mill in operation.
This is a list of some of the surviving watermills and tide mills in the United Kingdom.
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England
Bedfordshire
Berkshire
- Abbey Mill, Reading
- Bagnor Mill, Bagnor (now occupied by the Watermill Theatre)
- Boxford Mill. Boxford
- Calcot Mill, Reading
- Chamberhouse Mill, Thatcham
- Dun Mill, Hungerford
- Denford Mill, Hungerford
- Eddington Mill, Eddington
- Hungerford Mill, Thatcham
- Sandford Mill, Reading
- Sindlesham Mill, Reading
- Twyford Mill, Twyford
- Weston Mill, Weston
Buckinghamshire
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
- Bollington Mill, Bollington
- Bunbury Mill, Bunbury
- Church Minshull Mill, Church Minshull
- Dunham Massey Sawmill, Dunham Massey Hall
- Nantwich Mill, Nantwich
- Nether Alderley Mill, Macclesfield
- Quarry Bank Mill, Styal
- Stretton Watermill, Stretton
- Trafford Mill, Mickle Trafford, Chester
- Walk Mill, Waverton, Cheshire 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
- Trewen Mill, Trewen
- Wheal Martyn, Carthew
Cumbria
- Acorn Bank Mill, Penrith
- Beckside Mill, Kirkby-in-Furness
- Blennerhassett Mill, Aspatria
- Brampton Mill, Appleby
- Boot Watermill, Eskdale
- Gleaston Water Mill, Ulverston
- Heron Corn Mill, Milnthorpe
- High Mill, Alston
- Little Salkeld Watermill, Penrith
- Milton Mill, Crooklands
- Muncaster Mill, Ravenglass
- Old Fulling Mill, Ambleside
- Rutter Mill, Great Asby
- Sparket Mill, Hutton
- Stott Park Bobbin Mill, Ulverston
- Wythop Mill, Embleton
Derbyshire
Devon
- Bicklegh Mill, Tiverton
- Branscombe Manor Mill, Branscombe
- Clyston Mill, Broadclyst
- Coldharbour Mill, Cullompton
- Cricklepit Mill, Exeter
- 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, 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
East Yorkshire
Essex
- Alderford Mill, Sible Hedingham
- Beeleigh Mill, Maldon
- Bourne Mill, Colchester
- Bran End Mill, Stebbing
- Easterford Mill, Kelvedon
- Elmbridge Mill, Little Easton,
- Felsted Mill, Felsted
- Fyfield Mill, Fyfield
- Harlow Mill, Harlow
- Hartford End Mill, Hartford End
- Hylands Mill Hylands Park
- Little Hallingbury Mill, Little Hallingbury
- Little Parndon Mill, Little Parndon
- Roydon Mill, Roydon
- Roxwell Mill, Roxwell
- Stebbing Town Mill, Stebbing
- Thorrington Tide Mill, Thorrington
- Tilty Mill, Tilty Abbey
- Writtle Mill, Writtle
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
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
- Chase Mill, Bishops Waltham
- Chesapeake Mill, Wickham, Hampshire
- College Mill, Winchester
- 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
- Headley Water Mill, Headley
- 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
- Nether Wallop Mill Nether Wallop
- 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
- Wharf Mill, Winchester
- Whitchurch Silk Mill, Whitchurch
- Winchester City Mill, Winchester
- Woodmill, Southampton
Hertfordshire
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
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
Northamptonshire
North Yorkshire
- Darley Mill Centre, Nidderdale
- Esk Mill, Danby
- Fountains Abbey Mill, Ripon
- Gayle Mill, Hawes, Wensleydale
- Howsham Mill, Malton
- Low Mill, Bainbridge
- Pateley Bridge Watermill, Nidderdale
- Raindale Mill, York
- Tocketts Mill, Guisborough
- The Mill, West Burton
Northumberland
Nottinghamshire
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
- Kings Mill, Oxford
- 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
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
- Higher Mill, Croscombe
- 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
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
- Bourne Mill, Farnham
- Bourne Place Mill, Farnham
- 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, Farnham
- Hatch Mill, Godalming
- Haxted Watermill, near Edenbridge
- Heath Mill, Worplesdon
- High Mill, Farnham
- Netley Mill, Shere
- Ockford Mill, Godalming
- Ockham Mill, Ockham
- Old Castle Mill, Pixham
- Paddington Mill, Abinger
- Pirbright Mill, Pirbright
- Pippbrook Mill, Dorking
- Pixham Mill, Dorking
- Rickford's Mill, Worplesdon
- Shalford Mill, Guildford
- Sickle Mill, Haslemere
- Snowdenham Mill, Bramley
- Stanford Mill, Haslemere
- Stoke Mill, Guildford
- Town Mill, Guildford
- Unwin's Mill, Old Woking
- Upper Mill, Ewell
- Willey Mill, Farnham
- Wonersh Mill, Wonersh
Tyne and Wear
Warwickshire
West Midlands
West Sussex
West Yorkshire
Wiltshire
Worcestershire
Scotland
Aberdeenshire
Angus
Dumfries and Galloway
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
East Renfrewshire
Highlands
Lanarkshire
Moray
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
- Ayre Mill, Kirkwall
- Barony Mill, Birsay
- Boloquoy Mill, Sanday
- Cairston Mill, Stromness
- Dounby Click Mill, Dounby
- East Denwick Mill, Deerness
- Elwick Mill, Shapinsay
- Eyrland Mill, Stenness
- Firth Mill, Firth
- Grimness Mill, South Ronaldsay
- Kirbuster Mill, Orphir
- Peckhole Mill, North Ronaldsay
- Rango Mill, Sandwick
- Red House Mill, Eday
- Russland Mill, Harray
- Tankerness Mill, Tankerness
- Tormiston Mill, Stenness
- Trenabie Mill, Westray
- Sebay Mill, Toab
- Sourin Mill, Rousay
- Woodwick Mill, Evie
Perthshire
Renfrewshire
Scottish Borders
Shetland
South Ayrshire
Western Isles
West Lothian
Northern Ireland
County Antrim
County Down
County Fermanagh
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
- 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
West Glamorgan
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,
External links