lNTRODUOTION
THE LEN WATER-MILLS
By R. J. SPAIN
Tms study is but a sum total of existing knowledge available at the
time of composition. Nearly all the material involved is culled from
local public and private MS. collections and printed sources. Consequently
this history of the Valley Mills is predominantly concerned
with the last four centuries. Nevertheless, this shortcoming is well
balanced by the richness of the period. In these centuries the total
number of water-mills reached a maximum as did the number of
water-mills devoted to fulling and papermaking.
In Arch. Gant., lxxi, Robert Goodsall wrote a most interesting
paper on this same subject entitled 'Watermills on the River Len'.
Since then a considerable number of documents related to the mills
has been deposited in the Kent Archives Office, the most important
of these being the Leeds Castle Estate muniments. Added to these
accessions are extracts from local history books, descriptions of the
remaining mills and knowledge contributed by various people acquainted
with the mills.
F AIBBOURNE MILL
In the light of our present knowledge it seems very likely that
there was a mill at Fairbourne when the Domesday Survey was undertaken.
However, in fact, our first reference is dated 1580. It is to be
found in a 'Book of Quit Rents of Several Manors in Kent belonging
to Galfridon Mann Esq.' dated 1750.1 The handwritten entries nearly
all date from an original of 1579-80 including the rents for two manors
then existing in Harrietsham, East Farbourne and Holmill. Rents for
East Farbourne include:
'One year's rent of a messuage a tenement a Barn a Garden a
Watermill a Pond or Pool and 4 pieces of land containing by
estimation 20 acres of land whereof one piece is called Millandes
and one other piece is called Beggershill late of Edwar:a. Chamber,
William Chamber and Nicholas Chamber lying and being in
Harrietsham.'
Beside this account is the rent of nine hens. Further on a few pages
an identical set of entries for the manor dated the same year are
1 Kent Archives Office U24 M23.
32
l CHURCH 759 555
2. LITTLE CHURCH 760S55
3.PA0SOLE 764S56
4.CHRtSTIANS 768 557
S.TURKEY 772556
6.POLL 774 553
l OTHAM PAPER 78 7S46
8.0THAM CORN 791 S46
Cl THE COMB 8025S2
IQTHURNHAM 802 S47
THE LEN WATER MILLS
WITH 0.5. MAP REFERENCES
11.BALLARDS 804 547
i2.FULL ING 8 1 2 5 4 0
13.QLD 820541
14.LE NETHERTOUNE 823534
15.ABB.EY 823531
16.PRIORY 823530
17. PARK 832 542
18.GROVE 83S 545
19.EYHORNE CORN 835 546
20. HOLLINGBOURNE M ANOR 843 S52
Fro. 1.
i.
o7°'\j
.,.,,... ..... , __ ...;o.. ., ..,..,.... --
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21.-KEEPERS COTTAGE 831 536
2.THE MILE 834536
23. LE MILLE 83432
24.CASTLE 835S32
25. CHEGWORTH 850527
26.HOLME 860529
27. POLLHILL 861523
28. FAI RBOURNE 865S18
29. ALDINGTON 812 S73
\
THE LEN WATER-MILLS
written. Without exception all the rents are commuted to money.
For Fairbourne Mill two pence were paid instead of nine hens.
In a list of mills dated 1608 owned by James 12 occurs:
'Watermill, Fulborne, demised to Thomas Cakebread £2. 13. 4.'
This may refer to Fairbourne Mill, but some doubt exists. Much of
the royal milling property was disposed of shortly after this list was
made and the mill at Fairbourne may have been included. Certainly
no further evidence of royal ownership is known.
A rent roll of the Manor of Harrietsham 1694 in the possession of
Robert Goodsall mentions the occupier of Fairbourne Mill:
'Edward Hickmut (script damaged) Mills.'
The mill appeared on various maps throughout the eighteenth
and nineteenth centuries, with one of the first being of 1728.8
An interesting reference in the Archives to Fairbourne Mill is to
be found in a collection of documents concerning the Manor and
Lordship and Castle of Leeds, variously dated. 4 One of these documents,
a deed dated 1768 includes:
' ... and also all that one messuage or tenement with the millhouse
whereon a, Water Corn Mill had formerly stood ... in the parish
of Ulcombe and were heretofore part of the inheritance of Joseph
Hatch long since deceased and now in the occupation of Thos.
late Lord Culpeper and Thomas Stiles.'
The property mentioned was part of 'Lordship of Farbone alias
West Farbone together with all those two Water Corn Mills under one
roof'. The parties in the transfer were Francis Martin, widow, daughter
of Right Honourable Catherine Lady Fairfax, and the Rev. Denny
Martin of Leeds.
How old wa
s the former corn mill1 We have no way of telling. The
existing mill of this period had two pairs of stones. Apparently, even
as late as mid-eighteenth century, to have these under one roof is
noteworthy.
We are very lucky in having detailed information of the mill
during the late eighteenth century in the form of two old mill ledgers.
They were found by Mr. L. V. and Mr. T.V. Clark in 1929 when sorting
the effects of the late Thomas Clark, 1838-1929, miller of Fairbourne
and Corn Merchant. Later the ledgers were donated to Swadela.nds
Secondary Modern School, Lenham, to form pa.rt of the School Museum.
Mr. Turner, the headmaster, very kindly allowed me to examine then:>.
at length.
2 British :Museum, Lanadowne MSB.
3 0ood8aU MSB. Survey of the Estates of William Horsmonden Turner by
Alexander Bottle, 1728.
4 KAO U23Tll,
34
THE LEN WATER-MILLS
Both ledgers have Purchase and Sales sections. The earliest is
dated from 30th September, 1751 to 10th October, 1760 and the
second from 1st January, 1782 to 9th December, 1784. An examination
of both periods show that the mill work was nearly all with wheat,
varying at times from 60 to 95 per cent of the total output by weight.
The throughput of barley and oats was very similar, in the early
ledger comprising together perhaps 5 per cent of the mill output,
in the latter book nearer 40 per cent-perhaps witness of the growing
practice of milled animal feedstuffs . .A. negligible amount of peas and
beans were ground also.
All products of the mill were purchased in gallons, pecks, bushels,
sacks o r quarters and the amount, buyer and price carefully tabulated,
day after day. No sabbath entries are found. Assuming a working
day of approximately ten hours, the average hourly output was close
to ninety pounds. This from two pairs of stones, one for fine grinding
(wheat) and the other the hog corn or barley stone, is comparable to
modern outputs.
Milling terminology appears to have changed little. The various
stages of refinement and their relative weights as proportions of the
whole wheat output are:
Early Ledger Later Ledger Approx. % of whole
'wheat ground'
(i.e. first flour)
'wheat ground' 65
'Md' (middlings) 'coarse flour'
'2d' (seconds 01· 'wheat ground and dressed'
secondary flour) 'meal' 30
'Hd•' (headers from
the sieve?)
'pollard' 'pollard'
'hogcorn'
10
'bran' 'bran' 6
The later ledger shows a distinct increase in the number of refinements
and prices available to buyers. Much interesting information
could be gained from the two books, regarding prices, change in demand
throughout the year, distribution of sellers and buyers, etc.; but remains
outside the requirements of this study.
In 18475 and approximately 18556 a William Hudson was the
miller and farmer at Fairbourne Mill. Sometime soon after 1861
Thomas Clark moved in and was miller for some while. Although
6 S. Bagshaw, History, Gazetteer and Directory of the Oount,y of I{ent 1847
6 Post Ojflce, DirectoriJ of the Six Home Oounties, approx. 1856-61. '
35
THE LEN WATER-MILLS
Kelly's Directory of 1895 shows a Horace Hooke Clarke as miller of
Fairbourne this is not correct for Mr. L. J. Clark informed me that
his grand.father Thomas Clark remained at the mill until his death
in 1929. Much of the mill machinery was removed in 1908 when
milling ceased, although the water-wheel remained to operate a turbine
that was installed.
The existing mill building is red brick with weatherboard, a.s so many
were in Kent.
By some good fortune I was able to talk to a Mr. Gravel who
used to work in the mill many years before the First World War.
].\fr. Gravel confirmed that Fa.irbourne had two stones, one a flour
stone and the other for coarse grinding, though both could not be
used at once. In those days the mill produced only two refinements,
middlings and bran, sometimes taken together by customers for
malting wholemeal breathmY&i-J ___ '\':)i!i ____ fil!l .• J•i.:@ C'·'r'J·'· J,.,. --
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LEEDS CASTLE MILL
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ao R. Kilburne, .4 'l!opogr. tT AmLI
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SURVEYED IN 1966 SY
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BY KIND PERMISSION OF RJOHNSTON
THE LEN WATER-MILLS
To one side of the site is an original room much higher than the
remainder of the mill. Bricked-in arches in one wall beneath its floor
level indicate a much lower floor now blocked off.
Throughout the ruins are innumerable water channels running amid
and beneath the stone floors, many of which have yet to be traced.
The mill water apparently passes beneath ground in the mill and comes
to view some distance away.
There is little ·doubt that these ruins are unique and we are very
lucky that Mr. Johnston owns the site, for he is slowly uncovering
and maintaining the ruins. At a later date, when the complex of foundations
and waterways are recovered it may be possible to reconstruct
the working of this early nineteenth-century paper mill.
POLllJ Mn,L
In Kent Archives there are four documents concerning Mote Mill
the original name of Pole Mill.189 The oldest, dated llth April, 1518, is
a Lease for 30 years from 25th March, 1518, for the rent of 3 Ii 13s. 4d.
p.a. for the first 10 years and 3 li 6s. 8d. p.a. for the la,st 20 years.
The lease was from Hugh W aram of the manor of Halyng, Croyden,
Surrey, gent., to John Alphne of Maidstone, shearman and the property
concerned, Mote Mill with a close on west side and close and pond on
north side, in Maidstone.
The conditions were that Hugh Waram would provide in the first
year: necessary timber for repairs, two gudgeons, two 'peoes callyd
Brass', and four 'hopis that longythe to the throwe beme of the same
mill'; warrants John Alphne's right to use of the common water•
course to the mill; reserves right to distrain goods of John Alphne
on non-payment of rent and to repossess if the goods are insufficient;
John Alphne will undertake all necessary repairs; will pay all charges
against the King and the lord of the fee, and will be bound in 20 Ii to
observe conditions.
The 'throwe beme' suggests fulling stocks. In the second document,
a lese dated 18th April, 1534/5, for 20 years from Michaehnas 1534
at a rent of20s. p.a., between William Warham of Malshanger, Hamp·
shire and John Stenett of Maidstone, bladesmith, the property included
a. 'Newe mylle stedyll'140 belonging to the manor of :Mote with a house
built thereon, lands, two ponds, watercourse to and from the mill;
rea,sonable uae of the lane on the west side of the land called Little
Hyefeld (belonging to the manor of Mote) and to cross north end
of Little Hyefeld between the land and the mill (all in Maidstone).
139 KAO U593 Tl6.
ito English Dialeot Dictionary, by Joseph Wright (1900); Steddle, Steddling,
Staddle-Obs. A wooden building standing upon legs or supports to raise it out
of the mud. To support, make steady. Bedateddle ••.
80
THE LEN WATER-MILLS
The conditions included that William War ham will allow John
Stenett sufficient timber for necessary repairs, to be taken from the
wood belonging to the manor of Mote and to be felled and carried at
John Stenett's own cost; John Stenett will build a grindstone mill at
own cost; will keep in repair mill stedyll, house, watercourse and wheels;
has right to dig clay or loam from the loampit in Little Hyefeld, for
necessary repairs.
This second document suggests ·that some improvement had been
made to part or whole of the old mill. That a grindstone mill had to be
set up separately inferred they were living above fulling stocks. This
mill may have had two wheels each fed from a separate pond, one
powering hinged stocks for 'scouring' ( cleaning the cloth of superfluous
oil and grease] and the other vertical stampers, generally called falling
stocks, for 'milling' the cloth [to promote felting and shrinking]
as was the normal arrangement in early fulling mills.
The third document dated 16th March, 1536/7, is particularly
interesting. It is an agreement from Thomas Hartrege of Maidstone,
tailor, to William Tylden of Maidstone, draper, for
'Two mills called mote mille and the nue mille with islands ponds
an.d streams; and the profits of two o-vershot mills William Tylden
will build in the stream.'
The conditions included that William Tylden would occupy
the premises until Thomas Hartrege had paid 34 li and the costs of
building the new mills and necessary repairs to the old ones and will
hand over all leases of the mills to Thomas Hartrege on repossession.
This document suggests that the old mill did have two wheels and
processes which were supplemented with two new overshot 'mills'
which were to be built. It is most probable that these new wheels were
placed in 'parallel' with the existing, and not in series, i.e. arranged so
that they did not receive water from another wheel.
The final document of the set dated 30th May, 1538, is a lease for
40 years from Michaelmas 1537 for the rent of 12 li 2s. 8d. p.a., from
William Tylden of Maidstone, draper, to William Bassok of Maidstone,
fuller, and John Bassok of Otham, miller. The description of the
property includes:
'Messuage and two water mills under one roof, called the motmyllys;
watercourse descending from Mote Place to the mills; three ponds
on the North East side of the river between the mills and megynfordbrege,
right to "reasonable and necessarie pendyng" of the
water and ponds; a close of meadowland on the West side of mills
and another, called Taynterfield, on North side; new mill stedyll
sometime belonging to the manor of mote, with a, house built on it,
and four little tofts or islands on West side of stedyll; reasonable
use of the way between Maidstone and the mill over little Highfeld.'
81
THE_ LEN.WATER-MILLS
Conditions included that William Tylden convena.nts to repair
buildings and machinery and to scour and cleanse meadows, watercourses
and ditches. William and John Bassok to preserve the closures
and to avoid damage to property of William Warham's tenants beside
the way over Little Highfeld, and in the six acres of meadow between
the mills and the stone bridge called Ricebryge; to be responsible for
the 'Furryng, Sharpyng, Copsyng, Solyng knees, Daggshoos, Swyppys,
Swyppepynnys and Cheynys'; and to repair any damage done; and
to have the right to take fulling earth from any part of the property,
for the use of the mill.
According to the deed, beside the mill was a tenter field where the
fulled cloths were stretched on tenter hooks to dry in the wind and
sun. The mill site was specified as being between Madginford bridge
and Ryce bridge. Ryce bridge was probably close by the mill-perhaps
marked by the site of Pole Mill according to the First Edition Ordnance
Survey where two roads, one either side of the Len, approach each
other very closely.
The word swyppys appears to be a derivation of 'swipes' or 'sweeps',
which has a strong connection with beating. The English Dialect
Dictionary141 gives one meaning of Dag(g) as to damp. Also Chambers'
says, Swipian is Old English for, 'to beat'.
During the next few years the mill changed name-perhaps a new
one was built on the same site or very close by, for in a single deed
dated 10th May, 1549, wherein Lord Cobham bought from the Crown
the site of Maidstone College and its domain lands, 142 there is included:
'six acres of land near Poll mill, in Maidstone'.
Improvement to the old mill may have gone hand-in-hand with a
new name. In another deed dated 1638143 it remains as Poll Mill. The
parties concerned are, Sir John Astley of Maidstone and Sir Norton
Knatchbull with the object of their interest:
'that fulling mill commonly called Pollmill together with the
mill house, millpond, orchard garden ... now or late in the tenure
or occupation of William Hardynge and Thomas Spa ... '.
The three mill-ponds of a century previous have now become a
single pond, no doubt encompassing the three with a shape approaching
the existing lake.
In 1664 Sir Norton Knatchbu.ll, M.P., sold Poll Mill to Sir John
Banks. It was then still a fulling mill and under lease to a widow Giles
for £28 per annum. When Sir John Banks died in 1699 ownership
passed to his daughter, wife of Heneage Finch, later Earl of Aylesford.
141 Idem.
u History of The OoUege oJ Ali Saints, Maidatcme.
us KAO U234 T21.
82
THE LEN WATER-MILLS
From 1708 the mill was let to John Swinnock. In 1718 Lord Aylesford
paid him £300 to build-
'a good and substantial paper mill, with six troughs, a good and
sufficient pond or mill pond with floodgate etc.'144
However, shortly after these improvements were effected the Earl
died. In 1727 Swinnock, papermaker, became bankrupt.146 Apparently
the transition from fuller to papermaker was not easy. William
Gill succeeded him and he too became bankrupt four years later in 1731.
From 1731 until 1756 the brothers William and Joseph Cordwell took
possession;146 in a 1748 rental for the Aylesford Estates is an
entry 'Joseph Cordwell for a paper mill ea.Id Poll Mill £75';146a
then Abraham Fearon held it until 1760/61 when he sold the lease
to Clement Taylor for £400. The property included one paper mill,
two cottages, one rag house, and one wagon lodge.
Clement Taylor died in 1776 and his son James continued at
Pole Mill-after 1777 on a yearly tenancy.147 In June, 1785, James
Whatman obtained:
'all that Messuage or Tenement and Mill called Poll Mill, formerly
a fulling mill, and for some years past converted to a Paper mill,
with the several wheels, Engines, Implements, and Utensils thereto
belonging ... '148
Apparently at this time the mill had two vats.
Sometime before 1793 Whatman decided to sell his three mills.
The transfer took some time but not until 1795 does the Boxley
Land Tax Assessments show that Pole Mill ownership had been transferred
to Thomas Robert and Finch Hollingworth and William Balston.
They worked the mill until the dissolution of their partnership in
1805 when the Hollingworths continued.
On the first series I-in. Ordnance Survey the mill appears as 'Pole
Mills'.
In Pigot's Directory of 1824, under paper manufacturers, appears
Hollingworth Finch and Thomas attributed with Pole Mill among
others. Under paper mould makers there is Amouse, John of Pole Mill.
In the Maidstone Poll Book in the 1835 and 1838 elections, occur
the names, Joseph Rufus Winter, tailor, and William Winter, bleacher,
and their residence, Pole Mill, Boxley. No mention of the mill is
made in later election lists.
10 KAO Aylesford MSS.
uo London Gazette, 26th Sept., 1727.
ue Boxley Rate Book, Nov., 1731.
SFIP 68183, 25th Sept., 1735.
SFIP 68686, 3rd Nov., 1735.
146• KAO U234 Al4.
1'7 Whatmo.n Archives.
148 Thomas Baisten, James Whatnum, Father and Son.
83
THE LEN WATER-MILLS
Shortly after this the mill was pulled down and the site flooded
when Mote Park lake was enlarged a little later. Now the looal sailing
club course above the old mill-ponds.
TUR:ir:mYMILL
It is not surprising that Turkey Mill, prior to its well-known papermaking
life, was a fulling mill, for in the very grounds of the mill
itself-as elsewhere in Boxley parish-were valuable veins of fuller's
earth.
The earliest known reference to this mill occurs in a deed of June,
1629, in which Turkey Mill is described as:
'One dwelling house with the fulling mill thereunto adioyneinge
known by the name of Powle Mill with one barn one stable one
yard one garden one orchard one Mill pond one Osier bedd with the
appurtences.'149
Our next reference occurs in the Maidstone Records dated 1637150
and reads:
'From the upper end of the south side of East Lane to Powells
mill and Mi's. Nynnes house.'
Three years later it is known by another name, for a deed dated
1640161 between Symon Smythe of Tenterden and John Fletcher of
East Farleigh includes:
' . .. water myll commonly called the Overloppe Mill .. . now in
the tenure or occupation of Thos. Tolherst.'
It was sold with 10 acres of land for £493. Ten years later the name
is back to its original form, for in a description of Maidstone Manor
of 1650 occurs :162
'two pieces of meadowe abutting to land late Withinbrook West
to John Richardson and Richard Fletcher North to a way to
Powle Mill East to Moate lane South.'
In 1650 Thomas Tolherst at Overloppe was granted a fresh lease
for 21 years, however, he died before it expired. Upon his death the
tenure passed to his widow, Joane, and son Thomas.163
In this same year, John Fletcher conveyed the freehold to John
Cripps on his marriage to Fletcher's daughter. The mill was described
as a fulling mill, with a barn, one stable and a mill-pond, etc., in all
15 aores.
uo Stede Hill muniments.
lGO Burghmote Book 8.
101 KAO U289 T32.
lll Clement Taylor Smythe, i.
m KAO U289 T82/8I. Deed dated 9th Sept., 1657.
84
THE LEN WATER-MILLS
Sometime between the end of this lease in 1671 and 1693 this
fulling mill was converted to paper-making for it was mortgaged in the
latter year as a paper mill. The wooden hammers or stampers hitherto
employed on damp cloths, now macerated rags, ropes, sails and other
sources of vegetable fibre in preparation for making into paper.
It seems likely that the first papermaker tenant was George Gill of
Boxley; he certainly was associated with the mill in 1693, and in 1695 it
was leased to him at Christmas for 41 years by Dorothy Cripps, widow,
John and Nicholas Cripps. However, conversion may have taken place154
earlier, for Gill's name first appears in Boxley Parish Register in 1680.
Russell, writing in 1881,165 says that in 1719 there were two paper
mills on the Len:
'They had previously been fulling mills, and were adapted to the
requirements of the new manufacture by George Gill. At one
white paper was made, at the other brown wrapping paper, the
river at the former turning three overshot wheels.'
This is Turkey Mill and the description comes from John Harris
when he visited the mill in 1719.166 He writes:
'Here (the Len) it turns three overshot wheels; of about 8 ft.
diameter, which moves the whole work; the Water Boards are
about two Feet and a half long, and the trough delivers a Stream
of Water of Six Inches Deep. 'Tia a very large work, and they
could easily make much greater quantities of Paper, if there were
demands accordingly. The Rags they use they have mostly from
straggling Persons, which bring them to the Mill; And some they
have from London. The Brown and White Brown Paper which
they make here is chiefly from old Ropes, Sails etc., and . .. fine
Rags . .. to make White Paper.'
Harris does not mention the two distinct mills that Russell relates,
but instead describes three overshot wheels as powering the entire
mill. Hasted in 1798 says167 'they were formerly used as fulling mills'meaning
the wheels and their cogs, but it is doubtful that this was so.
Probably two of the wheels were added at the conversion.
To have three overshot waterwheels in such close proximity is
remarkable, but upon closer examination a simple explanation is
forthcoming. Their size was the minimum that efficiency and the
physical site would allow; the stream in the mill grounds could not
have allowed successive overshot wheels--only simultaneous.-the water
being divided into thirds to serve ea.eh. Thus over three aprons 2 ft.
6 in. wide and 6 in. deep.
m KAO U289 T32.
m J. Iv!. Russell, History of Maid8tone (1881).
106 Op cit., i, 191.
167 Op cit., iv, 329.
85
THE LEN WATER-MILLS
Each wheel very probably powered a set of stampers-heavy
wooden mallets-via cogs and a 'cam shaft' which macerated the
rags, etc., in water-fed cavities. Turkey Mill was well sited, for:
'Mr. Gill ... brought into his work a Collection of fine clear Water
from two of three Springs, which rise in a field adjoining to the
Mill.'168•
The duration of Mr. Gill's tenancy is not known, however, by
1716 he passed the remainder of his lease to his son William who
insured the mill.159
William's venture was not a success for he was declared bankrupt
in 1729. His association with Turkey ceased in 1731 when his name
last appears in the Boxley Rate Book, and his estate, including a large
paper mill, was advertised for sale.160
In 1732 the name William Cordwell is related to 'Gill's Mill' in
the Boxley Rate Book. His name disappears after 1734.
The next occupier was Richard Harris, papermaker of Hollingbourne,
who must have been there sometime earlier than 1736 when he
insured the stock in the mill.161 In 1738 he bought old Turkey Mill and
proceeded to pull it down and to re-erect it. Before he completed the
task, Harris died. His will dated 22nd August, 1739, includes:
' ... all that now built messuage or tenement wherein I now dwell
and the building intended for a paper mill at or near the place
where the old mill was which was called Turkey Mill.'
During 1740 Ann Harris married James Whatman and they went
to live at Turkey Court. The improvements to the mill continued; the
old pestle and mortars were no doubt displaced by the new Hollanders.
By the time of Whatman's death in 1759 considerable improvements
in output had been affected for there is strong evidence that
the paper mill had become the largest in the country. For the next
three years Ann Whatman controlled the mill, then James Whatman ll
took over in accordance with his father's wishes.
A deed of exchange for the transfer of a willow bed from Lord
Romney to Mr. Whatman dated 17th September, 1770, includes:
'All that piece or parcel of land or Ozier ground formerly a meadow
containing by estimation one acre .. . situate ·lying and being in
the parish of Maidstone aforesaid at or near a certain fulling mill
heretofore called Powells mill and since Tolhersts and now a paper
mill formerly in the occupation of Joseph Cordwell and now of
Clement Taylor.'161
1G8 John Harris.
u9 SFIP 7379, 29th Oct., 1716.
160 I<.entish Post and Oan.terbury News Letter, 8th March, 1731.
1a1 KAO U289 T29.
86
THE LEN WATER-MILLS
In evidence of Whatman's enterprise it is significant that he invited
John Rennie-who was engaged to convert the Albion flour mills in
London to primarily a cast-iron construction-to Turkey Mill.162
Rennie's report of October, 1787, unfortunately has not survived; it
would have made a singular contribution to our knowledge of the mill's
machinery prior to steam conversion. In later correspondence, however,
an entry, 'To altering a Pit wheel pattern' tells us that water-power was
still employed on the site.
Whatman sold his three paper mills, Turkey, Poll and Loose and
retired in 1793. The new possessors were Finch and Thomas Robert
Hollinyorth.
The first machine was put into Turkey in 1846 coincident with the
employment of steam-power. In 1848 the vats were abandoned, and a
second machine added ten years later. The third machine was taken from
Otham Paper Mill.
The last of the two Hollingworth brothers, Thomas Robert, died in
1824 and Turkey Mill passed to his sons Thomas and John. In 1889
it devolved to their nieces Mrs. F. E. Pitt and Lady George GordonLennox
jointly.
Wat.er-power was last employed at this mill approximately 1909.
Hollingworth (Turkey Mill) Ltd., still produces first-class papers under
the control of Major William Pitt.
0mtISTIAN'S Mn..L
The known history of this mill can begin conveniently with the
earliest date associated with it. An inscription on the building now
occupying the site says 'Fulling Mill House 1567'. We can only assume
that this was the date of its erection. No traces of the original building
or its watercourses remain, for I can remember as a child playing
amid the steep wooded slopes there. Only the winding stream remainsin
fact very little could ever have been there, for the site can only have
offered a rather low head of water-certainly not an overshot wheel.
Our next reference to this mill occurs in a covenant to a lease for
Turkey Mill dated Christmas 1695.163
' ... that if it shall or doe happen that the owners or occupiers
of the Corn Mill next below the aforesaid paper mill towards
Maidstone ... stopp or over penn the water in the Mill Stream . ..
and to raise the same to an unlawful height .. .'
The 'Corn Mill next below' Turkey Mill is Christian's Mill which had
obviously been converted from fulling to corn milling by this date.
Further evidence of this conversion is supplied by a deed dated the
162 James Whatman, Father and Son.
163 KAO U289 T32.
87
THE LEN WATER-MILLS
9th year of Queen Anne's reign, i.e. 1711.164 The parties concerned
being John Savage the Elder of Boughton Monchelsea and Anne his
wife of the first part, Thomas Porter of Sussex and Frances his wife
of the second part and William Pertis of Maidstone, miller, of the third
part. It continues:
' ... demised to William Pertis all that one messuage or tenement
and Mills ... called Christian Mills ... heretofore in the occupation
of John Lamb miller and late in the occupation of George Overy
or of his assignes ... '
It seems likely that the conversion took place sometime in the latter
half of the seventeenth century, for graph CML shows a. considerable
number of fullers during the middle of the century. Unfortunately,
the licences do not include the name of the two millers mentioned
above, however, a George Lamb of Maidstone described as a miiner
married in 1589.165 John Lamb may have been a relation.
From the word 'Mills' apparently at least two pairs of millstones
were in use.
A further deed of 1716166 confirms that William Pertis was still
in occupation; another of 1718 is a lease to a John Savage. In 1719
Pertis sold the mill to William Gill brewer, who in the next year on
19th July mortgaged it to Edward Faulkner, watchmaker.
Sometime before 1735 the mill was demolished by William Gill and
six tenements 'commonly called by the name of The Square' were
erected, for in that year he was declared bankrupt and his equities passed
to his creditor James Brooke. Why he removed Christian's Mill is not
known, but perhaps he hoped the six houses a more successful venture.
PADSOLE MILL
The origin of the word Pad.sole is indication of the earliest site.
Sole (soal)-a pond, or pool of water. Lewis says1 &7 'A dirty pond of
standing water', and this it probably was in its original signification
being derived from Anglo-Saxon sol, mud, mire.
Until the reign of Henry VIlI this mill was one of two in Maidstone
belonging to Christ Church, Canterbury. All early references to the mill
take the form of leases made by various Archbishops of Canterbury.
The earliest known lease related to this mill, for 21 years, was
granted the 18th year of Richard II (1395) by Archbishop Courtenay
to William Walbelton and Richard Haute.168
184 KAO U289 T33.
10 Oanterbury Marriage Licences, i, col. 256.
100 KAO U289 T32.
187. John Lewis, History and Antiquitiee, a8 well Ecclesiaetical ae Oivil, of the
leZe g- Tenet (Thanet) in Kent, 2nd edition, London, 1736.
1 Cathedral Libmry, S.f. 20,
88
THE LEN WATER-MILLS
Two references to Padsole Mill may be found in the Calendar of
the Demesne Leases made by Archbishop Warham, 1503-32.169 The
first reads in English:
'10 October 1518. Lease to Peter Sawnderson of Maidstone, fuller, of a
mill called Padesoldmyll in the parish of Maidstone, as William Elvet
used to have it, for 20 years at £5.6.8. p.a. The Archbishop's officers
shall have the right to enter the mill to see if repairs are necessary,
and repairs are to be done within a month of notice given to do them. '170
'10 January 1525. Lease to Walter Herenden of Maidstone, gentleman,
of the fulling-mill of Padsolemyll Maidstone, with all the
houses, mill-dams and ditches, for 4 years at £5.6.8. The farmer
shall be allowed to build a corn mill to grynd corne withall within
the roffe of the seid myll house or without, next adioynying to
to the same house, so as the seid fulling myll and cornemyll may
be inclosed, annexed and adioyned together upon the seid water,
provided it does not harm the annual farm of the other corn mill
the lord has in the town. '171
The suggested addition of a corn mill is interesting. If the farmer's
roof could take the weight of a pair of millstones and gear-well over
a ton with feeding bins and grain-it must surely have been cheaper
than to make a new trundle head and mountings under a new extension.
Very little harm would be done to the other mill in the town (which we
will come to later), far more surely to this same mill, unless the stones
were used when the stocks were silent as was most likely. Perhaps the
millstones were small and intended only for domestic purposes and
not a commercial undertaking.
Part of a rent roll of Maidstone Manor dated 1510 is in the Lambeth
Palace Library.172 Among the tenants is one who lived at Padsholemill.
In the year 1537, about the time of the Dissolution, Archbishop
Cranmer exchanged with Henry VIII the manor of Maidstone, including
two mills, for lands elsewhere in the county.
At the beginning of the seventeenth century, the Crown sold Maidstone
College and its domain lands to George Brooke, Lord Cobham
for the sum of £1,081 18s. ld.
A deed dated 13th June, 1550, from Edward IV to Sir Thomas Wyatt
the Younger includes the Manor of Oldborough, the Archbishop's
Park, and:
' ... also all that our fulling mill called Paddesmyll ... and also
all our lands called Fullersmeade, Upper Salteland & Nethersalteland
and a parcel of land at the end of the great bridge .. .'
l61) Dean and Chapter of Ca.nterbury, MSS. Register T.
17o Idem, fo. 164, 41, p. 279.
in Idem, fo. 323, vl25, p. 292.
172 Op. cit., 219.
89
THE LEN WATER-MILLS
The lands were stated as being lately in the possession of Sir
Thomas Wyatt the Elder and the See of Canterbury.173
A survey of Maidstone Manor made in 1650174 reads:
'It so remained (the property of the Crown) till the reign of King
James who granted the same to the City of London. It was then
conveyed to the Countess of Winchelsea, and by descent came to
Heneage, now Earl of Winchelsea .. .'
In 1608, however, James appeared to possess only one Maidstone
mill called Paddle le Myll.175 This could be a derivation of Padde 's
fulling mill.
In a Probate Register of Canterbmy176 the mill is mentioned in the
will of Thomas Knatchbull dated 1623:
'I the · said Thomas Knatchbull have lately purchased to me and
my heirs and assigns for ever {in fee farms) ... lands tenants ...
appurtenances called or known by the name of Padsoll Mill .. .'
The property passed to his wife Eleanor.
In 1650 Padsole was held by Sir William Collpeper.177 It had
apparently been converted, for it was stated as being then a corn mill.178
With the local cloth trade diminishing, perhaps those fulling mills
closer to the Weald and supplies of fuller's earth survived longer-
especially those of Otham and Leeds parishes.
In Kent Archives among a set of deeds related to various properties
are two documents mentioning Padsole Mill.179 The first is a Copy of a
Settlement of Real Estate on the marriage of a Mr. John Mumford, Jr.,
with Miss E. Nash dated 15th April, 1779. It includes:
'All that mill, millhouse, streams, lands and hereditaments
commonly called or known by the name of Padsole Mill ... late
in the tenure or occupation of Dansie Sawkins and now of John
Green ... together with all Buildings, Stables, Yards, Gardens,
Backside Ways ... Watercourses, Dams, Wares, Flood Gates,
Flood Hatches etc ... .'
A further conveyance of the estates amid the Mumford family
dated 22nd June, 1785, including Padsole Mill specifies John Green
again as occupant.
According to Russell the mill fell into a dilapidated condition in
the later part of the eighteenth century. The Maidstone Journal of
1792 advertises the sale of the mill's gear:
173 Hietory of The Oollege of All Saints, Maidstone.
m Clement Taylor Smythe, i.
m Lansdowne MSS., op. cit.
110 KAO PRO 32/45/376.
1'77 J.M. Russell, History of Maidstone.
11s C. T. Smythe MSS., i, The Manor of Maidstone, 1660.
in KAO Ul20 T90.
90
THE LEN WATER-MILLS
December 4. 1792.
TO BE SOLD
At the Mill late Mr. Greens
Several pair of French Stones; one dressing mill; two lift jacks;
a catch machine and tackle; a wheat machine and tackle, six flour
shovels, several mill bills, four spindles, four pairs of horns, one
under shot water wheel and gut, shafts with gudgeons, hoops and
brass to ditto, spur nuts to ditto, master cog wheel to ditto; one
tun, two hoppers and troughs; one overshot water wheel, shaft
with gudgeons, hoopsand brass to ditto, master cog wheel to ditto,
spur nut to ditto; one upright shaft, with gudgeons, hoop and brass,
spur wheel to ditto, two nuts to ditto; a water wheel, t,vo shafts
and cog wheel, iron and brass to ditto; a gut to the two overshots,
two hursts with bridge-trees and carriages, one round tun, one
square ditto, with sundries.
Enquire of Mr. Smyth, Mill Lane or of Mr. Hollingworth, High St.
Following the sale of milling equipment Padsole Mill was converted
to papermaking by James Smyth in 1795/6 who was partner in the
firm of Smyth and Hollingworth. Smyth continued participation for
a short while only, for he disposed of his share to Thomas Robert.
This is probably the share advertised for sale in the Maidstone
J
...
F.tRS1' SERIES
MILL
SURVEY OF MAIDSTONE
BROWN & SON 1821
-N------------
=:=================--
A88EY MILL
PRIORY Mx.L - . ,
SITE
LE
NETHERTOUNE
MILL SITE
61N. 0. S. 1865/6
FIG. 10.
THE LEN WATER-MILLS
Early writers have a habit of referring to pairs of millstones as
mills-even water-mills-which is very misleading to archaeologists.
The above case is clarified by the 'Maidstone Mill' being singular, and
the Padsole reference which includes 'the other corn mill the lord has
in the town'.
According to the reference, the Archbishop held only one mill in Mill
Lane, but later there were two distinct mills called the Church Mills.
Documents in the possession of Maidstone Corporation describing
a division of wards dated 17th October, 1593, mention:
'To Mr. Edward Maplisdin, from the mills in Millane on the weste
side their and so downe the highestreate on that side and so under
the clifte on both sides and the great Brige.'184
The following extract from a Burghmote Book also mentions a
mill in the Lane:186
'Item ther is a common Prevye or place of retrait uppon the
milbaye adjoining to the stables and houses of Mr. Ba.therst ther,
sometimes Francis Kelshams, which prevey is and ought to (be)
common for all people and for that purpose layed forth and made
open and common in lieu of an auncient and common prevye sometimes
standinge neere the myll ther in Myllane and from thence
removed and taken awaye by Richard Barham in his lyfe tyme.'
Following the Crown's acquisition of Maidstone Manor in 1537,
the tenants of the mills are unknown for some time. Several people
were granted various parts of the Manor, but none of these grants
mention the mills. The only light we receive in this dark period is
that in 1653 John Crispe Senior was a miller in 'Mile Lane' .186
Our next reference is a very interesting deed dated 1683 between
Thomas Knatchbull the older and · John Knatchbull, oldest son of
Norton Knatchbull and Thomas Knatchbull, nephew of Thomas
Knatchbull the elder. It reads:187
'And all that messuage and the ancient rooms with the water
mill therein standing situated at the s.outh end of the mills called
Church Mills and under a room wherein Katherine Rogers widow
now doth inhabite and the Corn mills to the said messuage belonging
and therewithall used or enjoyed (that is to say) One Water Mill
and one Malt Mill ... at the Millbay at the lower end of a certain
street there called Mill Land late in the occupation of John Grigson
Miller and now in the occupation of James Gilbert or his assignees .
• . • .And all that slaughter house . . . '
· 1u Miss K. S. Martin, Records of Maidetone (1926), 31.
184 Idem, 56. Burghmote Book 2 (1663-1642).
186 Clement Taylor Smythe, i, 92. Burghmote a.nd Council Material.
167 KAO U274 T20.
95
THE LEN WATER-MILLS
Apparently the water-mill underneath the occupied room w:as very
ancient and no longer in use. Another document in the collection gives
further evidence. It refers to:
' ... a messuage and mill at the south end of the Church Milla
together with a meadow called Pole field and a Garden then called
the Island and formerly the Artichoke garden, all near the Mill
Bay at the lower end of Mill lane in Maidstone.'
It would seem that the Pole field mentioned was the one allied to
Padsole Fulling Mill, although apparently nearer Mill Lane.
In 17 45 Maidstone Rate Book refers to two separate mills in the
Lane. One was rated at £8 6s. 8d. per year to Daniel Love, the other at
£16 13s. 4d. to William Purlia-a good indication that the smaller mill
had one set of stones and the larger several.
An indenture dated 30th March, 1752,188 describes the mills of
Mill Lane. In this indenture Richard W attel of Harrietsham, let to
William Purlis of Maidstone, miller:
'All that messuage in which William Purlis now dwelleth and all
that Mill-house and Water Corn Mills adjoining And also all that
Granary over the house and the hogstye in the Island And also
all that messuage commonly called Rawlings Tenement and the
Millhouse and Mills commonly called the Little Church Mills
adjoining to the said last mentioned Tenement being near the
aforesaid Milla and the Granary and Little Stable under it which
... late were used by Daniel Howe and the ground where the said
Daniel Howe's Hogg and Haystack usually stood at or near Mill
Lane and the Water Flash house Waggon Lodge All the Stables
and Hay lofts over the same together with all manner of Houses
Stables Outbuildings etc ... lying in Maidstone i n or near a certain
Street or Lane commonly called Mill Lane and near to a place
there called the Cowyard now or late in the occupation of William
Purlis and Daniel Howe.'
It is very fortunate that with the deed is an 'Inventory of Mill
Tackling belonging to Mr. Purlis at the Church Mills', which includes:
'In the Mill next the Church One Water Wheele which drives the
Bolting Mills with Cogg Wheels Shafts Brasses and Gudgeons
Pillows Sleepers Also foar Bolting Mills and Spouts Gears Ropes
Brasses and Screws thereunto belonging. Also one Wind Fann
with all the Brasses Wheeles Spindles Bridge Tree and Birin under
it and scry belonging to the same. .Also one pair of French Mill
Stones one Trough_ one Tunn one Ladder one Spout one Binn
and Shoe belonging to the same. Also three large Binns or Hoppers
belonging to the Bolting Mills and one pair of Trundle · Heads
1se KAO U416 T30.
96
THE LEN WATER-MILLS
which drive the Stones. Also five wheat Binns with the Linings of
the same One Lifting Jack One Counter Wheele Ropes and Pullies
belonging to the same and one Sack Cart.'
In the other Mill:
'Two pair of French Mill Stones one pair of Peaks two Spindles
two Maddocks and two Brass Steps belonging to the same. Also
two Meal Troughs, three Ladders three Tunns three Hoppers
three Shoes and three Calls belonging to the same. Also three
Bolting Mills and Shafts Brasses and Gudgeons Bridge Trees and
Spouts two Counter Wheeles and other small Tackling or Gear
thereunto belonging. Also one Wind Fann Binn and Scry Brasses
and other Tackling belonging to the same. Three pair of Trundle
Heads which drive the stones. Also the Partitions and Linings of
the Flour and Meal Pestries nine Wheat Binns two long Series
one short one three Iron Cranes and a Sack Cart.'
Two separate mills are described, one being considerably more
productive than the other. It is more than conjecture that the former
mill marked the superior site, the mill nearest the Church being Little
Church Mill.
Referring to the Survey of 1Waidstone by Brown & Son in 1821
shows several buildings adjacent to the head of the mill-pond. The
block parallel and next to the lane was known to be a mill, as future
evidence shows. It marks without doubt, the superior position, abreast
the stream, and furthermore, the manner in which it restricts the road
width points to a long-standing existence.
The Maidstone Rate Books from 1668 give occupiers of the Mill
Lane Mills and their rates. Throughout the period the rates generally
increased. Up to mid-eighteenth century the rates for all Maidstone
mills were quite unsettled, however, after a gap in the records the
Church Mill rates remained fairly static at a high level until the 1820s.
The names related to the mills, in chronological order, between
approximately 1670 and 1815 are as follows:
John Grigson
Robert Gilbert
James Appleton
William Purlis
Daniel Love
Richard Mercer
Among the Clement Taylor Smythe manuscripts in the Museum is
material for a history of Maidstone written in 1832.189 It relates:
'The Len divides at the Little Bridge (Gabriels Hill) into two streams
by which it flows into the mill bay of Mr. Mercers flour mill. The
189 Op. cit., ill.
97
THE LEN WATER-MILLS
south one is a watercourse of modem excavation made 70 or 80
years ago to draw the water off more quickly from above the
Little Bridge and prevent floods there which used to come into the
lower part of the brewhouse. The said Millbay is a large sheet of
water covering I¼ acres and was much improved by :Mr. Mercer's
late father ... at the bottom of the street and lane is the mill
house, mill and premises of Messrs. Mercer.'
Although Richard Mercer's father is credited with enlarging the
mill-pond the Rates would point to William Purlis as the improver.
The graph giving the rates shows a great rise between 1745 and 1770
probably attributable to the new cut mentioned, together with enlargement
of the mill-pond.
Only one mill is mentioned above. Probably Little Church Mill with its
single stone was abandoned or acquired by the owner of the larger mill.
In a Directory of 1803190 under Maidstone Trades is Mercer Thos. miller.
Looking to Brown's map, the original 'waste' employed prior to
1850-60 between Gabriel's Hill and Mill Lane must have followed close
to the southern side of the island with the building and terminated
alongside the 'three tiered' building .. Then the new southern cut was
made and later l\fr. Mercer Senior enlarged the pond, gained in storage
and perhaps some small increase in head of water.
In a printed version of the material for the History of Maidstone,
the writer, speaking of :Mr. Mercer's Mill, added:
'It has been reported to me that the inhabitants of Maidstone took
some privilege respecting the grinding of their meal at this mill, but
for this I do not remember to have met with any written authority.'
An interesting relic of manorial soke rights.
It is odd that a mill should stand on the waste of another, but this
was so in the case of Little Church Mill. Common ownership certainly
seems to have prevailed and may have been necessary, for work in
the smaller mill was very dependent on the excess water from the larger,
particularly in summer.
In Pigot's Directory of Kent, 1824, the millers of Mill Lane were
John and Thomas Mercer. By 1839, however, the Mercers took a
partner, for in a book of that year the names Mercer & Parton·appear as
millers.191 The name Mill Lane also changes to Street.
Bagshaw's Directory of 1847 gives Mercer & Parton, but the Post
Office Directory of 1855/61 states Parton, H. & J. K. only. A later
version of the Directory dated 1874 gives Parton & Page,
In the 1895. Kelly's Directory the only millers that could have been
in Mill Lane are West & Wright, Town Wharf, High St. & Iguana.don
100 W. Finch, Kent Directory (1803).
191 James Phippen, '1.'opography of Maidetone (1889).
98
THE EMPLOYMENT OF WATER POWER IN THI'( LEN VALLEY
CORN MILUNG.fillllll FULLING. lll!lllcoMBINATION.
PAPERMAJ
