The Loose Watermills - Part II

THE LOOSE WATERMILLS, II By R. J. SPAIN INTRODUCTION THIS paper is the second and final part of an introduction to the industrial history of the Loose VaUey. It is a continuation of Part I which appeared Hi Arch. Cant., Ixxxvii (1972), 43-79. Six watermUl sites are examined in turn, beginning with Hayle MUl and finishing with Bridge MUl. HAYLE MILL The first name that can be linked with this property is Ralph Bufkin who was the occupier according to the Loose Poor Assessment in 1627.1 Before that date, the estate called Hayle Place, which undoubtedly included the mill, was occupied and possibly owned by at least two people. Between 1639 and 1682, the Beale famUy apparently owned the property, beginning with Richard Beale from 1639 to 1663, then Mrs. Beale, 1664, Mistress Susanna, 1667, Mistress Beale, 1675, Mr. Beale, 1679, Haiward BeaU Gent., 1680, and, finaUy, Mrs. Susan BeaU, 1682. From 1683 to at least 1689, the relevant name is 'Captaine Craner'.2 The entry for 1689 and 1st October, 1691, is SH Phinos Root. In 1692, the relevant name is Mr. Walter which, in 1703, is written Mr. Henry Walter. In 1704, the occupier is given as Richard Beale whose name continues Hi the Hsts untU 26th May, 1712. Robert Hammond is then listed from November, 1712 to January, 1723. The next entry dated 30th August, 1723, is Mr. Beale. Later this becomes Alexander Beale Esq., who continued at least untU 1731.3 The entry dated 25th February, 1733, gives Thomas Pine as occupier for this property and the rateable value is £30, a value which was unchanged from the early 1720s tiU 1770. The last entry of Thomas Pine is dated March, 1745, and the foUowing entries up to and including 1746 give the words 'Halle Place'. On 12th August, 1747, the relevant entry is 'The HeHes of W Slingsby for Hale Place'. Throughout all these entries the property heads the hsts and commands one of the greatest property values suggesting an estate of some importance. In the assessment dated 26th December, 1747, under the section 1 Loose Poor Book, 1615-1650. 2 Ibid., 1650-1678, 1678-1694. 3 Ibid., 1694-1728. 159 R. J. SPAIN entitled OutdweUers is the entry 'Mr. Post for Hale at £30' and underneath 'D° for Clothworkers Land' having a rateable value of £4. His name is associated with both these properties up to and including the assessment dated 27th July, 1797, when the values were respectively £50 and £10.* I t is very likely that 'Clothworkers Land' was where the fulled cloths were spread out to dry on poles, hnes and tenterhooks, normaUy close by the fulling miU and often caUed Pole Field.5 In 1797, the entry of Clothworkers Land disappears and thereafter WUham Post Gent, continues to be assessed at a rateable value of £80. In 1800, the entry reads 'Late Post Esq.' and, in June, 1801, it is 'Thomas Smith late Post Gent, at £80'. Smith continues to be assessed at £80 tUl the entry dated 24th June, 1807; however, the next entry, dated 29th June, 1808, is valued at £70, and in the Hst entitled OutdweUers occurs 'Pine John late Smith £10'. The next entry, dated 25th July, 1810, reads 'John Pine, TovU' at £45. This entry continues beside this property until 28th AprU, 1813. The next assessment dated 28th October of the same year reads 'John Green late Pine at £45'.6 The last entry of 'John Green late Pine' occurs in AprU, 1818 and the next Hi October of that year reads 'John Green Hayle Mill £45'.7 According to the Topography of Maidstone and its Environs, Hayle MUl. . . '. . . stands on lands fomerly belonging to Hayle Place and after some difficulties, arising from the novelty of the undertaking and other causes, was completed in 1808.'8 In the Green MSS. is an extract from the Kentish Gazette dated 15th September, 1812, which reads: 'Two Vat White Paper MiU on the Loose Stream. To be sold by auction on Tuesday 12th October 1812 . . . Called Hayle Mill with 5 acres or thereabouts of meadow land . . . with a pen of water of about 2 acreB which gives at all times full and ample power to the MiU also a copious supply of spring water which rises on the premises . . . Property has been built within 5 years . . . The whole of the machinery and fixtures including presses of all descriptions, chests, vats, copper, trebles and lines blinds and all fixed utensils will be included in the sale . . .' This advertisement suggests that the buUding of the mUl was finished not earUer than September, 1807, which agrees with the information Hi the Topography of Maidstone. When the Green famUy took possession is not too clear. In the 4 Loose Poor Book, 1756-1783; Loose Churchwardens Accounts, 1780-1812. 8 Arch. Cant., Ixxxii (1967), The Len Water-Mills, 61, Old Mill; 65, Fulling MiU; 81, Pole Mill, 'Taynter Field'. <• Loose Poor Book, 1811-1817. ' Ibid., 1817-1826. 8 Phippen (1839), op. cit., 86. 160 THE LOOSE WATERMILLS, II Green MSS. is a schedule of deeds and documents relating to Lower Crisbrook Mill, and other property in TovU begins with a date of August, 1812, for an entry of 'Further charges' from Mr. J. Pine to Messrs. Beeching and Davies who may have been John Green's solicitors. John Green may have been Hi the mUl before 1812 when it was advertised for sale. The present owner beheves it was 1810 as the mill letter-heads indicate but no records substantiate this. The Green famUy had certainly been in the area some time before this date. In the 1768 Poll for Maidstone is John Green, mUler. According to Alfred Shorter the earhest reference to Hayle MiU Hi the Excise Records is in a Hst of mUls dated 1816.9 It is interesting to note that Hi the Maidstone PoU Book 1832-70 the foUowing are Usted.10 John Green paper manufacturer Loose. John Green junior paper manufacturer Otham Mill. John Green senior mould maker Mill Street. John Green junior paper mould maker Doctors Field. In a later Poll, 1835, is John Green, senior, Hayle Mill. Pigot's 1840 Directory includes, under Papermakers, Green Samuel, Hayle MUl.11 In 1838 Hayle MUl was apparently advertised for sale:12 'Known as The Hayle Paper Mill . . . Three vat paper mill on the Langley Stream, with the valuable plant and machinery, a genteel and convenient residence, garden, pleasure ground, orchard and paddock, and six substancial cottages occupying a site of nearly six acres and a half . . . To be sold by auction 31st October 1838 . . . by direction of the assignees and with the consent of the mortgagees of Messrs Green & Sons, Paper Makers . . . With strong undershot wheel, turned by a powerful head of water, a spacious lofty vat house with slated roof, with its complete fixed machinery, a parting salle, steam boiler with cast iron tubes, sizing house with two coppers, stone chests, press etc., . . . Engine House with two paper engines. A salle with capital screw presses, glazing rolls, a mechanical dry press etc A steam engine of six horse power by Easton, and ten horse boiler and apparatus . . . Finishing room, rag house, store house smaller ditto and leather warehouse; also a spacious double drying loft extending about one hundred feet, by a width of 27 feet and ten trebles high, heated by steam pipes and enclosed by curtains and rollers, also a windlass. In the yard a counting house, carpenters shop, warehouses and lofts and arched vault for coals. In the meadow a large well built tank, enclosed for the reception of spring water conducted through a large leaden pipe for the supply of the Mill and Premises . . .' It is most surprising that an undershot wheel existed here at this comparatively late stage in the general development of the vaUey. 0 MiU no. 310, John Green Hayle MUl. 10 PoU on 12th December, 1832. 11 Pigot (1840), op. cit., 327. 13 Green MSS., FUe G-H, Doe. D, Sheet 1 and 2. 161 R. J. SPAIN Such a waterwheel was inefficient Hi comparison to an overshot wheel and suggests a low head of water. In a Day Book kept between 1838 and 1843 there are the foUowing notes:13 1839 February 25 Paid for sweeping steam engine chimney 3/6. 1839 (undated) Paid for Donkey collar 3/0. 1839 „ Paid for Pony's collar 1/0. 1841 „ Donkey harness £1/10/0. 1843 ,, Paid Mr. Jones for catching rats 1/0. According to KeUy's 1852 Directory Samuel Green was still the occupier.1* In Munkton's Directory of 1854 J. B. Green is given as papermaker at Hayle MUl." A description of various local industries made in 1881 included Hayle MiU where 'Beam, horizontal and vertical steam engines respectively perform then alloted parts, and the water wheel lends a helping hand'." The plans related to the 1856 Loose VaUey RaUway show Hayle Mill and pond. The area and shape of the pond show no change from the 1837 Tithe Map when the area was given as 2A 2R 14P, i.e. approximately 112,700 sq. ft. Oddly enough, the Tithe Map and schedule give the name of the mUl as Ivy MUl, a mistake.17 On the raUway map a row of six cottages is shown at the upper end of the pond, possibly the ones referred to in 1838. Mr. Green has in his possession a map which was apparently made in 1889 according to a pencU inscription. The title block reads 'Plans of Hayle MiU and Upper and Lower Crisbrook MiUs, Section of Hayle MiU the property of H. Green Esq" showing the proposed Loose RaUway'. It was made by Herbert Bensted, F.R.I.B.A., Surveyor of Maidstone. From the plans which scale 3 in. to 100 yds., the head-race, which is shown under, the mill, scales off at 12 ft. 6 Hi. wide. The tailrace goes straight back under the miU for some 50 ft. and then turns through 45° back towards the waste next to the road. The intended railway appears to take the same route as that shown on the 1856 map suggesting that this map may have been the landowner's copy of the projected works. A diary kept by C. Larkin between 1858 and 1919, Hi the possession of Ted Bincham of Loose, includes: 13 Green MSS. 11 Kelly's (1852), op. cit., 1095. 15 Munkton (1854), op. cit., 65. 10 Industries of Maidstone, op. cit., 6. l ' K.A.O. Q./Rum. 402, Books of Reference 402A, 402B; Loose Tithe Maps at Canterbury Cathedral Library, To. L9. 162 THE LOOSE WATERMILLS, II 'Mr. Green had new shaft built at Hayle MiU. November 1876.' and later, 'Started new Boyler at Hayle Mill August 13th 1891.' In Mr. Green's MSS. is the note: 'In the past it frequently happened that early Monday morning there is not enough water in the reservoir to start up. Frequently the cause of this is because Crisbrooks water wheel grating is stopped up with leaves and rubbish. Therefore the Stoker on duty at about 3 pm. Sunday afternoon should go down through the garden and clean out all rubbish from the grating above the water wheel and see that the wheel is running at the proper speed.' Dated 11th November, 1954. 'During the Summer holiday in 1955 we lowered Hayle Mill pond in order to mend cracks in the wall but before doing so we completely emptied Upper Crisbrook Pond so that any mud that comes down from Hayle Pond went down through into Lower Crisbrook. The lowest board was very rotten and could have given way at any time. We made a new bottom board out of pitch pine, creosoted it and used the old top board. The dimensions of the boards in this gut are as follows;- The bottom board which rests on a concrete sill is made of one piece 3ft. 2ins. deep bolted with metal strips both sides. Above this is a board with a metal strip and handle 1ft. 2Jins. deep. Above this a long board going across the sill way which is about 8Jins. deep.' Dated 26th July, 1955. A further note says that in 1946 the gut was inspected and proved to be 4 ft. 9 in. of board above mud and approximately 5 ft. 9 in. of mud below the bottom of the gut. A note dated 3rd November, 1958, reads: 'At the moment an automatic gate is being made, so that when the pond rises the gate automatically opens and lowers the pond . . . much rain lately . . . floods the rag boiling room . . . may have to pull another board.' There is another note, apparently for a visitor's book, that the water wheel develops about 10 h.p. When I visited the MUl the water wheel was stiH Hi use though relegated to the mundane task of driving the cooler fan for sizing the paper and driving a felt washing-machine. Some years ago the wheel drove two smaU beaters. The wheel measures a fraction over 12 ft. diameter, with eight cast-Hon compass arms mounted on a square shaft with 8 keys. Three bays each 3 ft. 3 in. wide make up the width. No maker's name appears. Water is appHed by two gates, an unusual arrangement, one overshot and one pitchback on the opposite side. The overshot apphcation is closest to the pond and is undoubtedly the original method. A deflector plate is employed with the pitchback and the water serving this is no longer running and is stagnant. It was last used some twenty years ago, and the old quadrant gear that used to raise the gate is broken. 163 R. J. SPAIN In June, 1968, the wheel was relieved of aU work and now stands idle. The owners would gladly be rid of the wheel and its extensive cast-Hon troughs for it takes up much valuable room in the mUl. Hayle mUlpond is cleaned once a year in the area close to the wheel and waste, though the pond generaUy has some 12 in. of clear water above 5 ft. of mud. When work is requHed in the wheel pit a couple of buckets of ashes are thrown behind the gate to make a watertight seal. The trash rack consists of 3 in. vertical bars and the waste boards are all within the mUl and can be raised by block and tackle. UPPER CRISBROOK MILL J. K. WaUenberg says that the name Crisbrook was probably originaUy the name of the stream, the first section of the word being Old English 'coerse', 'cresse', 'cyrse' or 'cresse'.18 The earhest occurrence of the name appears to be 'de Krisbrok', in 1327. Upper Crisbrook MUl was probably a fulling mUl when WiUiam Lambarde wrote of the Loose VaUey.19 Some uncertainty exists as to who occupied this mUl during the early Maidstone Rate Book entries. Two possibUities exist. The first is that James Lands was the occupier in 1668, then James Downes Hi 1669, who was replaced Hi the entry dated 20th June, 1675, by Alexander Bassock.20 The last entry of Alexander Bassock is dated 16th July, 1703, under 'TovelP.21 We do not know his profession although several of the Bassock famUy were known to have been fuUers. The second possibUity is that Philip Bassock, who is Usted Hi the first entry of the Maidstone Rate Books, may be associated with this miU. The date of this entry is 28th AprU, 1668. Phihp Bassock, fuUer, of Loose, took part Hi a wedding in February, 1662, and October, 1665.22 The last entry of Phihp Bassock is dated 28th May, 1680 ;23 the next relevant entry is Robert GUes in 1681 who is replaced in the entry of 1684 by Thomas Jones. Thomas Jones occurs again in 20th June, 1685, following which the property cannot be traced. I t seems likely that this Thomas Jones was the same as the one who worked Gurney's MUl from approximately 1678 to 1684, and later Bockingford MUl from approximately 1683 to 1746. If this is so then Upper Crisbrook was probably fulling during this period. Aside from the foregoing assumptions the first entry which is undoubtedly for this miU is dated 14th July, 1711,24 against the name 18 WaUenberg (1934), op. cit., 140. 10 Lambarde (1570), op. cit. 20 Maidstone Rate Book, i. 21 Ibid., iv. 22 Canterbury Marriage Licences, iii, col. 29. 23 Maidstone Rate Book, ii. 21 Ibid., iv. 164 THE LOOSE WATERMILLS, II of Matthew Chandler at £2. His name continues untU replaced by James Appleton on 7th July, 172125 at £5. Chandler's profession is not known, but James Appleton was a mUler. James Appleton occurs in the Rate Book against this property untU 18th May, 173126 and later in 1736 and 1737. He was the occupier of the MUl Street miUs in Maidstone up to 1720, though his name does not occur against this property in the lists dated 1725, 1730 and 1735. Between October, 1731 and 7th May, 1735, WUham Parks was occupier of the mUl, then James Appleton Hi 1736 and 1737.27 In the entry for 13th June, 1744, it reads 'John PoweU a mUl'. His name is given in the Hst dated 1st September, 1746, following which there is a gap in the Maidstone Rate Books untU 16th May, 1763,28 when the relevant occupier is Robert GentUe at £12. Sometime between October, 1769, and May, 1772, Andrew Gentile took over; he, Hi turn, was replaced by Francis HaU just before February, 1777.29 The last entry of HaU is dated 29th AprU, 1783,30 and the Hst dated 5th September, 1783,31 reads 'Jonathan PUlow more late HaU £15'. Jonathan Pillow's name occurs beside tbis property up to the last entry in the Rate Books dated 8th May, 1822.32 I t is interesting to note that from 1783 to at least 1802 he also occupied Lower Crisbrook MiU. In the Kent Archives Office there is an indenture dated 180933 between the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Christ, Canterbury, and Edward Penfold of Loose which includes: 'One Corn Mill called Loose Mill and the Mills of the said Dean and Chapter in Loose and Maidstone called Crisbrook Mills . . . for the said Fulling Mills and lands thereto belonging Four Pounds and for the said Manor and Corn Mill.. . Twenty Pounds and Sixteen Pence.' It is surprising that these mills were fulling at such a late period and particularly so in view of the likelihood that this mUl was a corn-mUI during the greater part of the eighteenth century. In 1816, Messrs. Penfolds Estates at Loose were sold. Included were the Upper and Lower Crisbrook MiUs which were described as:34 25 Ibid., v. 20 Ibid., vi. 27 Ibid., vii. 28 Ibid.., viii. 20 Ibid., ix. 30 Ibid., x. 81 Ibid., xi. 32 Ibid., xii-xvii. 33 K.A.O. TJ36 T1645. 84 Skinner MSS. 165 R. J. SPAIN CBISBBOOK AJND MAIDSTONE Watermills & Premises, & Three Cottages together with 3 acres 1 rood 20 perches of capital meadow and woodland In the occupation of Messrs. Burgess & Co. at the Annual Rent of . . . ... £349.10.0. The Lease of the Mill expires at Michaelmas 1817. There is a footnote in this paper which reads: 'The above Estate is Leasehold, held under the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury, for the Term of Twenty-One Years, from Michaelmas, 1809, at the Yearly Rent of £24.1.4d. and the Life Interest of Mrs. Mary Penfold, aged 59, under the Will of her Grandfather, Thomas Crispe, Esq. deceased; to such Lease and every renewal thereof is the Property intended to be Sold; and the Purchaser will be bound, under the Will of Mr. Crispe, to renew the Lease from time to time out of the Rents and Profits of the Estate and the usual Term of renewal with the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury, which is at the end of every Seven Years.' I t is interesting to note the variation in the spelHng of Crisbrook. The frontispiece of the above particular sheet suggests that the mills were known as 'Cresbrook and Maidstone', whereas the place was caUed Crisbrook. It also suggests that the upper mUl was called Cresbrook. John Bunyar, mUler, was occupier ofthis miU from 1824 to 1840.35 He may have been at the mUl a year or two before 1824, and sometime after 1840. John Bunyar occurs Hi an assessment hst made for the repans of the Loose Highways Hi October, 1832.36 The Loose Tithe Map of 1837 gives L. Penfold as owner and John Bunyar as occupier. The null pond, mcluding a short section of the taU-race and small area of 'rough', is scheduled as 2R. 24P. or, approximately, 28,310 sq. ft. Munkton's Directory dated 1854 gives John W. Wilson, mUler, of TovU who is attributable to this miU.37 The 1856 plan of the Maidstone and Loose VaUey RaUway38 gives the pond and nearby land as being Hi the occupation of John Barcham Green. KeUy's 1859 Directory gives John Boucher, mUler, of Upper Crisbrook MUl, TovU.39 There is a picture of the Loose VaUey made by WiUiam Dampier in about 1864 which shows Upper Crisbrook MUl and its waterwheel.40 A comparison of the 1856 map mUl buUding outhne with the present 36 Pigot (1824), op. cit., 333. 88 Loose Highway Book, Maidstone Museum. 37 Munkton's (1864), op. eit. 38 K.A.O. Q./Rum. 402, Books of Reference 402A, 402B. 30 KeUy's (1859), op. cit., 614. 40 H. R. Pratt Boorman, Maidstone, 189. 166 THE LOOSE WATERMILLS, II fabric shows that an extension of the fabric was made on the north side of the miU. In a memorandum for Hayle MUl in the J. Barcham Green MSS. is an entry which probably refers to this addition. It is dated December, 1879, and reads: 'Price for making cement for floor @ Crisbrook Mill' . . . The entry also includes 'new tiles' and further on, 'Cost of new job @ Flour MiU—March 29/1888 20 yds. of Aylesford Sand 7000 red bricks 10000 (?) bricks 4400 tiles'. The extension was apparently completed by 1888 for there is a map of that year in Mr. J. B. Green's possession which shows the mtended raUway in relation to Mr. Green's land. Upper Crisbrook is shown, scale approximately three inches to one hundred feet, and includes the extension. The pond area was approximately 0 • 23 acres. In a hand-written notebook kept by Mr. C. Larkin41 is an entry dated 27th AprU, 1876, which reads 'Mr. Green bought upper flour miU', and a further entry Hi July, 1878, 'Put new water wheel in upper flour mUl'. In KeUy's 1882 Directory^ is 'Threadgold WiUiam Moss, MiUer and Corn Merchant of 9 MUl St. and Crissbrook MUls, TovU'. Mr. Threadgold was possibly here much earHer for there is an entry Hi the Blue Book kept by Mr. C. Larkin 'Bought Grey Horse of Threadgold in Feb. 13th 1875'. In KeUy's 1895 and 1905 Directories the name of George Burnett Blackett, mUler, is associated with Crisbrook MUls. I have been told that this mUl was grinding flour before 1900 and, sometime later, fuller's earth was being worked by a man named Mitchenor. There is in the J. Barcham Green MSS.43 a specification for a waterwheel for this mUl. I t reads: 'Specification for preparing, making and fixing a new Overshot Water Wheel for J. B. Green. A new iron overshot water wheel; the same to be 18ft 6ins. diameter; 8ft.3ins. wide and carrying 72 buckets. The wheel is to be made with 3 cast iron centre pieces, arms and shrouding, each centre piece to be cast in halves and fastened and secured by wrought iron bands shrunk on when hot; the same to be securely keyed on present cast iron shaft 9J ins. square. The buckets, liners etc. to be of the best Staffordshire rolled sheets No. 14 BWG thickness fitted and fixed 41 C. Larkin, 1858-1919, found in a drawer in the shop at Lower Tovil Mill, November 1959. 42 KeUy's (1882), op. cit., 352. 43 Barcham Green MSS., Pile G-H, doc. TJ. 167 R. J. SPAIN to shrouding with all necessary bolts, stays, rivets etc. complete. The whole of the above specification to be completed in a good and workmanlike manner for the sum of £200. Signed Alfred Sheldon Engineer. Wells Somerset. April 29th 1878.' Prolonged cold spells in winter usually caused ice to build up on the wheel and mUl waU. At times the ice on each arm measured some eighteen inches across, and aU eight would be running against a complete ice sheet on the mill fabric until such time as the ice surfaces immediately fused sohd. No amount of work with hammers and axes could free the wheel and the only course of action was to melt the ice. Everything that was combustible and disposable was thrown into the wheel and set on fire, including boxes, tyres and fencing. When the heat was raised, the penstock was cracked, and the buckets kept fuU whUe the fire was continuaUy fed. On one occasion more than twelve hours elapsed before the wheel suddenly spun into action. After approximately 1906 the wheel was powering a pump which served Hayle MUl with spring water. Whenever the wheel froze, Hayle was very quickly brought to a standstiU. Mr. Ted Bincham, of Loose, remembers Upper Crisbrook having two or three new water-wheels in the 1920s and 30s as a result of wUful damage. He helped replace a shaft which he believes was broken by trespassers. I t was 6 to 7 Hi. sq. and held by eight keys, four to each hub, which subsequently proved troublesome. They continually worked loose, and the wheel had to be regularly stopped, then jammed with raUway-sleepers and baulks of timber while the keys were knocked home. Downstream from Hayle the grounds are bounded by a high wall beside the road, which abuts Upper Crisbrook Mill further along the vaUey. The Loose stream is hidden from public view by this waU, as is the pond and waterwheel of the miU. The mUl has four floors under a tUed mansard roof, the lower two within ragstone waUs with weatherboarding above. On the north side away from the pond, the fabric has been extended by some 8 ft. with red brick and a slate roof. At the top of the waste the water passes through a trash rack of vertical bars before plunging into a narrow stone and concrete chute which takes the water at a steep angle down to the island beside the mUl. Stone steps curve down beside the waste and tUt against the leaning overgrown ragstone waU forming the mUl-dam. At the bottom, the stream disappears into a tunnel to join the mUl stream beneath the road. The steel apron, with bolted cast-iron side pieces bearing the words 168 THE LOOSE WATERMILLS, II 'H GREEN JULY 1884' still carries some water via the closed gate at the top of the idle wheel, which measures 18 ft. over the buckets. Three sets of eight cast-Hon arms divide the wheel in two, four-foot bays and support the mUd steel buckets and flanges. Originally, the arms were cast for a 9 in. square shaft with eight keys but this has been replaced by a six-inch diameter cast-Hon shaft and packing pieces. Ice and frost cracked the bolted spht-arms some years ago and these are now strengthened with clamped steel bars. Although idle for some seven or eight years the condition of the wheel is quite good, for the backing is only marked by one smaU hole through which the water trickles. No maker's name appears on this wheel or bearing plate though it seems likely that this is the wheel whose specification is mentioned earHer. The wheel now leans against the mUl waU. Beneath the apron there is a walk-way between the wheel and the mih-dam which gave room to work on the wheel face. Entry to the mUl was from the road after walking back past the pond to Hayle, for the door close by the wheel was locked and the key lost. The pit wheel and all other gearing has long gone, though a depression in the waU above the barrel vault marks the position of the mam driving spur. Nothing remains of the stones or theH positions except some short wooden spouts with canvas Hps, projecting through from the floor above, suggesting the position of the four paHs of millstones that once worked there. When last Hi use the waterwheel drove the cutter and an old water pump on the ground floor used for delivering water from a nearby spring to Hayle mUl. LOWER CRISBROOK MILL In the first entry of the Maidstone Rate Book, dated 28th AprU, 1668, there is written 'Richard Parsons £3'. In view of the foUowing evidence this assessment was very probably for Lower Crisbrook MiU. The Canterbury Marriage Licences include the name of Richard Parson, a fuUer of Harrietsham, who was a bridegroom on 29th January, 1628.44 It is possible that this was one and the same person. The last entry of Richard Parson is dated 1677. The next entry dated 7th June, 1678, gives WiUiam Parson as occupier ofthis property.45 On 28th May, 1680, the relevant entry is 'Robert GUes a miU £3'. In the next entry of 20th January, 1681, the name has changed again 'Johnathan Dare the miU £3'. The assessment of this property was raised in 1686 to £5 while aU other property Usted remains at the same value suggesting that some improvement may have been made to the property. On 2nd January, 1691,46 Johnathan's name is replaced by 'Widow Dare'. 44 Canterbury Marriage Licences, ii, col. 747. 45 Maidstone Rate Book, ii. 40 Ibid., iii. 169 R. J. SPAIN 26th June, 1697, is the first entry of John Dare against the property, whose name continues untU 1st June, 1717,47 when it is replaced by 'The Widow Dare'. On 7th July, 1721, the relevant entry is 'Mr. Matthew Chandler' stiU at £5, the last entry of his name being dated 30th November, 1736.43 The 11th June, 1737, entry is against 'Lady Tompson' which Hi 1740 is given as 'John Thompson', and on 1st September, 1746, becomes 'SH John Thompson'.49 Between the last mentioned date and 16th May, 1763, there are no further entries because the Maidstone Rate Books for this period have never been found. The first entry after this gap that could be attributed to Lower Crisbrook is 'Robert GentUe at £18' .50 I t is interesting to note that he was also occupier of Upper Crisbrook miU for this period. 'Andrew GentUe' appears against this property in the entry dated 23rd May, 1772,51 and continues untU at least 9th February, 1778. On 26th January, 1780,52 his name is replaced by James PiUow, who Hi the list dated 5th September, 1783,53 is replaced by Jonathan PiUow who continues untU at least 22nd October, 1802.54 By 4th October, 1809,55 the relevant entry is 'Messrs. Burgess late PiUow at £25'. This mUl was apparently fulling Hi 1809. Andrews' map of 176056 clearly shows this miU, as does Greenwoods of 1821,57 on which it is marked by a waterwheel symbol. On 20th February, 1822, occurs the first entry of 'WUson, MUl, Late Burgess at £20'.58 Pigot's 1824 Directory^ gives John Bunyar and Robert Wilson, mUlers, both of TovU, as occupiers of Crisbrook MiUs. The name of John Bunyar is not given. A perusal of later maps reveals that Lower Crisbrook mill was in the Maidstone Parish, while the Upper Crisbrook miU was Hi Loose. I t would therefore seem reasonable to assume that Mr. Wilson occupied Lower Crisbrook mUl, a flour mUl at this date. An 1839 DHectory60 gives the foUowing information about the watermiUs of the Loose stream: 'The Dean and Chapter of Canterbury have three, which are flour mills, . . . and two near Mount Ararat, called Crisbrook Mills occupied respectively by Mr. Robert Wilson and Mr. Bunyar'. 47 Ibid., iv, v. 48 Ibid., vi. 49 Ibid., vii. 60 Ibid., viii. 61 Ibid., ix. 62 Ibid., x. 63 Ibid., xi. 04 Ibid., xii-xiii. 66 Ibid., xiv-xv. 60 Andrews Dury and Herbert, Survey of Kent (1769), sheet 12. 57 Greenwood, Map of Kent (1822). 68 Maidstone Rate Book, xvii. 69 Pigot (1824), op. cit., 333. 00 Phippen (1839), op. cit., 186. 170 THE LOOSE WATERMILLS, II Pigot's 1840 Directory under Maidstone MUlers, gives the name of Robert WUson, TovU.61 Bagshaw's 1847 Directory described it as a Corn MUl and in the trades section, under Corn MiUers is the name, John WUson, TovU.62 James Phippen in his 1850 Directory Hsts two Wilsons as mUlers of TovU including John WUson.63 Kelly's 1852 Directory gives J. W. Wilson, miller of TovU.64 In Munkton's 1854 Directory two WUsons occur, John WUson and John W. Wilson, both millers of TovU.65 In view of the 1847 reference to John WUson, it seems that he was working Lower Crisbrook MUl at this date. KeUy's 1859 Directory does not give a WUson under Maidstone, but includes John Down, miUer, of TovU.66 The Maidstone and Loose RaUway schedule of 1856 gives John Down as occupier of land and cottages close by Lower Crisbrook. Unfortunately, the mUl itseH did not come withm the bounds of the Hmits of deviation on either side of the mtended raUway track and so was not included in the schedule.67 KeUy's 1882 Directory includes under Maidstone, Commercial, 'Threadgold, WiUiam Moss., MiUer and Corn Merchant, 19 MUl Street and Crisbrook MiU, TovU'.68 There is an entry in a schedule of Deeds and Documents Hi the Barcham Green MSS. of a conveyance dated 14th AprU, 1882, from Mr. W. M. Threadgold to John Barcham Green. By 1895 a further change in the occupier had occurred for in Kelly's Directory under TovU is 'Blackett, George., Burnett, MiUer, Crisbrook MiUs'.69 By 1905 he apparently ceased working this mUl.70 Plans Hi the possession of Mr. J. B. Green, showing parts of the intended Loose VaUey RaUway, give the plans of Lower Crisbrook MUl and pond very accurately. The overaU measurements of the buUding were approximately 72 ft. by 41 ft. though the mam body was 54 ft. by 20 ft. across the stream the island formed by the waste and mUl stream was 250 ft. long by 60 ft. wide at its maximum. The map is dated 1888 in pencU. There is also in Mr. Green's possession an architect's drawing dated 8th December, 1920, entitled 'Old Crisbrook Flour MiU, TovU', by Wm. H. Poole, London Road, Maidstone. Apparently the owner mtended that the buUding be converted into cottages, though I am told it was never done. The buUding was of four floors, including a reduced floor area of 01 Pigot (1840). 02 Bagshaw (1847), op. cit., 65. 03 Phippen (1850), op. cit., 61. 84 KeUy's (1852), op. cit., 1095. 06 Munkton (1854), op. cit., 64. 66 Kelly's (1859), op. cit. 87 K.A.O. Q./Rum. 402, Books of Reference 402A, 402B. 88 KeUy's (1882), op. cit., 362. 88 KeUy's (1895), op. cit., 385. 70 KeUy's (1905), Directory of Kent. 171 16 R. J. SPAIN 10 ft., consisting of brick and stone base with weatherboarding above the first floor. The waterwheel was shown as 8 ft. 6 in. wide by 11 ft. diameter and the difference Hi water level between head- and tailrace being approximately 14 ft. The wheel was inside the buUding on the west end, close to the road. On the south elevation the weatherboarding continued down to the ground being the width of the wheel, suggesting that this was to facihtate removal of the waterwheel. A section through the buUding paraUel to the waterflow shows that the ground on one side was lower, by the basement depth, than the other side. The apron and trough, drawn and marked mistakenly as a water tank, are level with the top of the wheel which Hi turn is shown some two feet above the water. The wheel was probably an overshot, but aUowing for the surveyor's obvious ignorance of water-power engineering it may have been a high breast or pitchback wheel. In plan view two pit wheels are shown, one each side of the waterwheel. No machinery is shown though four paUs of stones appear on the ground floor which scale off as 4 ft. 3 in. diameter. In the Barcham Green MSS. is an entry dated 23rd December, 1941, giving the floor areas of the mUl. They are, Ground, 75 ft. by 18 ft.; FHst, 78 ft. by 18 ft.; Second, 52 ft. by 18 ft.; and ThHd, 53 ft. by 18 ft.71 Mr. Brett, who stiU works for Mr. J. B. Green at Hayle MiU, recaUs removing the wheel in approximately 1935. He remembers the wheel had a cast-Hon frame and sheet metal buckets mounted on a cast-Hon shaft upon which the date 1680 was cast. It was a square shaft and turned on the journals. Mr. BUI Wickham of TovU mill believes that the mUl was last used for grinding fuUer's earth. He remembers the miU was abandoned, and puUed down some thne between 1950 and 1954. During this period Albert E. Reed and Company at Upper TovU MUl rented the taU-race and miU pond and attempted to keep it cleared. Apparently the taUrace received sewage from the vaUey cottages, which sUted the water courses untU eventuaUy the island between the stream and taU-race, which was planted as an orchard, had to be removed to increase the area of water. Tests made by Messrs. Reeds show that the volume of water passing through the Crisbrook Pond gives a normal flow of 1,300 gaUons per minute. The lowest weekly average for the five years before 1955 was 850 gaUons per minute, and it was estimated during flood periods as many as 1,800 gaUons per minute were flowing. A site inspection reveals that only the foundation of the miU, very much overgrown, remains. Although the taU-race, now a long sheet of water and an extension of the pond serving Upper TovU mUl, 7i J. Barcham Green MSS., File I-L. 172 THE LOOSE WATERMILLS, II THE EMPLOYMENT OF WATER POWER ON THE LOOSE STREAM' HS PAPERMAKING >£jAN0/OR BOARD j | CORN MILLING " : " : OIL MILL D ^GUNPOWDER SLOPE OENOTES CHANGE OR i TERMINATION OF USE OCCURRING BETWEEN TWO POINTS IN TIME. OTHER USES BRIDGE LOWER TOVIL UPPER TOVIL LOWER CRISBROOK UPPER CRISBROOK BOCKINGFORO GREAT IVY LOOSE VILLAGE UPPER LEG O MUTTON iiwii» FIG. 1. R. J. SPAIN is clean and weU maintained, the mill pond of Lower Crisbrook mill has caused the water level to drop, reveahng great areas of mud. UPPEB, TO\TL MILL There is a description of the Manor of Maidstone in 1650 which includes two water mUls at TovU.72 'Stephen Fowle houldeth a mill and house and divers piece of land to the CoUege land East to the Street and MK Questenbury South and West to the River North.' One would assume that as aU the TovU property holdmgs in the 1650 survey are described in relation to each other and the extant topographical features, it would be possible to superimpose them onto the present geography and estabhsh the approximate position of these two mUls. In fact the task is extremely difficult. Although certam holdmgs can be placed with some certainty, the majority, including the Manor miUs, cannot be located. As Bridge MUl is later revealed as belonging to the CoUege of AU Saints, Maidstone, which did not form part of the Manor of Maidstone, the two Manor mUls must mark the sites of Upper and Lower TovU MiUs, though which is which we cannot teU. In the first assessment of the Maidstone Rate Books dated 28th AprU, 1668, there is an entry against Richard Parson marked 'more late Robert Baseden £7', which, Hi the Hght of subsequent evidence, may be attributed to this mill.73 The January 1676 entry shows that the rateable value of this property had been increased to £9, aU other property values remaining constant suggesting some improvement to the mUl. The last entry of Richard Parson for this property is dated 28th May, 1680.7i It is interesting to note that he was also occupier of Lower Crisbrook MUl throughout this period. In the assessment made in January 1681 the relevant entry for this miU reads, 'MantUoe paper miU' against a value of £13. The first entry of his name in the Hsts headed 'TovU' occurs in 1680 and it is spelt 'ManktoUo' and is against an amount of £12, obviously the same property. His name continues Hi the entries against values of £12 and later £13 untU 1720, Hi which year the amount was reduced to £8.75 In 1697 and 1698 Stephen Mankteloe, paper maker, took as apprentices, Thomas Warley (1697), Thomas Mankteloe, Charles Leaper and John Helbee (1698).76 In 1721 the relevant entry is 'Peter Musgrove, late MantUow' against £8. Two years later the value of the property was substantiaUy 72 Clement Taylor Smythe MSS., i, 74. 73 Maidstone Rate Book, i. 71 Ibid., n. 76 Ibid., iii-v. 76 Clement Taylor Smythe MSS., Apprentices List. 174 THE LOOSE WATERMILLS, II increased to £20, which amount continued untU 1731,77 when it was reduced to £18. Peter Musgrove insured his paper mUl in 1727, when it was Hi the occupation of Thomas Gifford and George PUlchard.78 Entries of Peter Musgrove continue until in 1745 the relevant entry reads, 'Wilkins late Peter Musgrove' against a value of £18.79 In that year WUham Wilkins, paper maker, insured his mUl and houses in the tenure of WiUiam Musgrove and George Pitcher.80 Sometime before 1772 the name of WUltins is replaced by Clement Taylor. In the next year the value is increased from £39 to £83 10s. and may be related to improvements which this occupier apparently made.81 In an 1839 Gazetteer it is written, 'TovU null is one of the largest mUls Hi the country, was at different times almost entirely new built by Mr. Taylor, a former proprietor'.82 Clement Taylor was reported bankrupt Hi the London Gazette dated 21st October, 1797. Subsequently, the miU was advertised for sale by auction in the Maidstone Journal on 3rd AprU, 1798: 'Sale by Auction by Messrs Green & Son. At the Star Inn Maidstone on Monday 16th April . . . by order of the Assignes of Mr, Clement Taylor a Bankrupt... Lot 1. All that Capital Freehold PAPERMILL called Tovil Mill, and the wheels, engines, vats, presses, chests, trebles, lines, utensils and implements thereto belonging, together with the Engine-Houses, Rag-houses, extensive Drying lofts . . . and also all those several pieces or parcels of land, with their appurtenances near . . . to the said mill . . . containing by estimation 21 aores . . . (including the mill pond and . . .) The said mill consists of 5 vats, is amply supplied with Spring water . . .' The Rate Book assessment dated April 179983 gives the relevant entry as Edward RusseU & Co., and the second assessment of that year as 'Joseph Ruse for House Land & MUl late RusseU and Edmeads'. In 1802, Joseph Ruse, paper maker, insured a mUl at TovU.84 Maidstone Rate Books show that Joseph Ruse was occupier of this mUl from 1799 to April 1814, when the relevant entry is given as Messrs. Ruse and Turner.85 There is at TovU MUl a most interesting plan of the mUl and its grounds, dated 1809, which was brought to my attention by Mr. Bill Whickham. A comparison between the miUpond shown and later site plans reveals Httle change in shape and position. It is said that 77 Maidstone Rate Book, vi. 78 Shorter, op. cit., SFIP 41763, 18th May, 1727. 79 Maidstone Rate Book, vii. 80 Shorter, op. cit., SFIP 103693, 21st October, 1745. 81 Maidstone Rate Book, ix. 82 Phippen (1839), op. cit., 86. 83 Maidstone Rate Book, xiii. 84 Shorter, op. cit., SFIP 729657, 27th February, 1802. 86 Maidstone Rate Book, xiv, xv. 175 R. J. SPAIN Ruse enlarged the head of water at considerable expense,86 so that this map suggests that the work had been completed by 1809. A smaU island is shown in the northern arm of the main sheet of water which does not appear on later plans or maps. The position of the waste has not changed from the present day, and on the map is indicated by the words 'tumbling bay'. A further bypass was supplied close to the wheel. The wheel position is given with the words 'water wheel' which measures in accordance with the scale approximately 18 ft. diameter and 15 ft. wide. In 1816 the proprietors of the mUl were Ruse, Turner & Welch.87 Various documents are kept in the Kent Archives Office which show watermarks bearing the names of W. Turner & Son (1815), G. & R. Turner (1824), R. Turner & Son (1822), which may have been manufactured at this mUl. The last entry of the Rate Books, dated May, 1822, gives 'Turner & Welch',88 which agrees with Pigot's 1824 Directory. Pigot's 1840 Directory gives Richard Turner as occupier of TovU MUl. He is described as a manufacturer of white and brown paper. Samuel Bagshaw writing in 184789 shows that George Francis GUes was at this miU. Munkton's 1854 Directory®0 gives Messrs. Hook & Simpson at Upper TovU MUl. KeUy's 1859 Directory^ gives WUham Simpson as occupier only, the other partner having taken over Snodland Paper MUl further down the Medway vaUey. I t was during Simpson's occupation that the mUl used straw for paper-making, one of the earhest to do so. For a whUe the miU was caUed StrawmUl and stUl is by some of the locals. Legacy of this is 'StrawmUl HUl' which is close by the mill. In 1871 the mUl was owned by Simpson and Hargreaves and in the foUowing year by the bankers, suggesting bankruptcy.92 The Barcham Green MSS. include a hand-written notebook of the period which gives an entry: 1875 13th February, 'gave supper to the workspeople in the new building at STRAW MILL TOVIL'. KeUy's 1882 Directory** gives the firm TovU Paper Coy. Ltd. as occupying this miU. In 1896 the mUl suffered a disastrous fire after which Mr. Albert E. Reed, who became owner about this time, rebuUt, refitted and modernized it. 88 Phippen (1839), op. cit., 86. 87 Excise General Letter, 8th October, 1816. 88 Maidstone Rate Book, xvii. 89 Bagshaw (1847), op. cit., 71. 80 Munkton (1854), op. cit., 65. 91 Kelly's (1869), op. cit., 614. 02 According to the late Jack Ralph of Aylesford Paper Mills. 03 KeUy's (1882), op. cit., 352. 176 THE LOOSE WATERMILLS, II In 1894 a conveyance plan of the mUl was made94 and this has been compared with the above-mentioned plan of 1809. By employing a suitable scale, it has been possible to superimpose dHectly one drawing upon the other. Various common data, e.g. clearly identifiable buUding and boundary points, reveal that the plans have a maximum hnear error of only 3 per cent. Allowing for a very smaU difference in orientation, the comparison of the mUl ponds shows that the north end of the main sheet of water has lost the island and its bank had been somewhat straightened. Since the 1894 drawing was made the smaUer pond has been backfilled and buUt on. Mr. Whickham beheves this was done before the Second World War, probably in the 1930s. Water-power was probably dispensed with about the turn of the century. The main water-race stUl passes under the mUl and is used as a dram. With imagination it is almost possible to see the 'fresh' plasterwork where the barrel vault was. The water level in the taU-race, now a drain, was some ten feet below floor level, which, added to the height that the head-race is above the floor level suggests a total drop of some 25-30 ft. which confirms the large diameter of the wheel. When Reeds took over a steam engine was HistaUed which, Mr. Whickham informs me, drove in the opposite dHection to the waterwheel, suggesting that the wheel may have been abandoned at this time. LOWER TOVH MILL The earhest reference to this mUl occurs in the description of the Manor of Maidstone mentioned in the history of the previous mUl, Upper TovU. From that extract it is clear that either the Earl of Sahsbury or Stephen Fowle occupied this mUl in 1650. The first entry in the Maidstone Rate Books to be associated with this property is dated 28th AprU, 1668, and the occupier given as WUham Lanes.95 Later, in 1672, the property was assessed at £1, then Hi the Hst dated 28th May, 1680, the figure was raised to £4.96 A year later Henry Lanes was the occupier; the last entry in that name occurring on 20th June, 1685, when the value is given as £12, a substantial increase on the previous year's value of £4. In the Canterbury Marriage Licences there is a record that a Henry Lanes, mUlman of Loose, took part Hi a wedding on 6th February, 1623.97 I t is not clear what function a mUlman held, possibly an assistant Hi a corn or fulling miU. On 10th August, 1674, a WUham Lane 01 Held by BiU Whickham of TovU MiU. 95 Maidstone Rate Book, i. 98 Ibid., ii. " Canterbury Marriage Licences, ii, col. 918. 177 R. J. SPAIN Junior, fuUer of Loose, was married.98 The bondsman at this wedding was WUham Lane, senior, fuUer of Loose. It seems likely that this was a fulling mUl. In 1686 the occupier of this mUl was Peter Musgrove and the value £20.99 Apparently, he was a papermaker, for his name occurs in the Apprentice Papers held Hi Maidstone Museum,100 with a reference to this year. His name continues untU a Hst dated 5th December, 1701, which gives 'Peter Musgrove's widow at £20'.101 The foUowing year, the entry is again Peter Musgrove but the value was increased to £25. This was very likely his son of the same name, who had earHer been apprenticed to his father in 1692. The last entry of Peter Musgrove is dated 7th July, 1721. The 1722 entry reads 'Musgrove, now WUham GUI', and the foUowing year 'John Robbins late Musgrove at £25'. John Robbins' name is last given in the hst dated 14th May, 1725. In 1726 the relevant entries are 'John Robbins now GUI' and later 'Mr. GUI'.102 The name of Mr. GiU is given against this property for the last time Hi 1728. Later in the same year, his name is replaced by 'Mr. Pine late GUI' with the value stUl as £25. In 1730, the relevant entry reads 'Mr. Thomas Pine late GUI'. In 1731, a paper mUl was destroyed by the blowing-up of a powder mUl at TovU.103 From the evidence at hand related to Bridge MiU it is clear that the paper mUl concerned was Lower TovU MiU. No change Hi the occupier or value occurs in the Rate Books throughout this period. In 1741,10* the assessment was on Thomas Pine Senior, whose name continued untU 13th June, 1744. The foUowing year it was Thomas Pine, junior. Alfred Shorter has recorded that Thomas Pine, junior, papermaker, insured a miU house, drying house, etc., in TovU.105 The Maidstone Rate Books between September, 1746, and May, 1763, are missing. In 1763, Simon Pine was the occupier assessed at £30.108 SimUar entries continue untU 1780.107 In 1781 the name of John Pine is entered against an amount of £50. From 1795108 the entry reads John Pine & Co. In 1796, the value was increased from £50 to £65. 98 Ibid., iii, col. 283. 09 Maidstone Rate Book, ii. 100 Clement Taylor Smythe MSS., i, Apprentices List. 101 Maidstone Rate Book, iii-v. 102 Ibid., vi. 103 Tlie Gentleman's Magazine or Monthly InteUigencier, i, July, 1731; The Kentish Post or Canterbury News Letter, July, 1731. 101 Maidstone Rate Book, vii. 106 Shorter, op. cit., SFIP 103461, 30th September, 1745. 106 Maidstone Rate Book, viii. 107 Ibid., ix, x. 108 Ibid., xii. 178 THE LOOSE WATERMILLS, II The entry dated 28th January, 1803, identifies the property as 'House, MUl and Land'.109 In 1802 there was an accident at John Pine's paper miU at TovU.110 The last entry in the Rate Books deposited at Maidstone Museum is dated 8th May, 1822, and the relevant entry is John Pine at £65.U1 According to the Victoria County History of Kenfi12 Lower TovU Mill was destroyed by fire in 1814. Pigot's 1824 Directory gives John Pine, papermaker, at Lower TovU. By 1839, John Pine had left the mUl and Messrs. Smith and AUnutt were occupiers. The owner was then H. AUnutt, Esq.113 A DHectory of 1847 gives Smith & AUnutt114 but later, in 1852115 it becomes Henry AUnutt & Son, and then two years later116 it is recorded as AUnutt, Henry, TovU and Ivy MiUs. In Industries of Maidstone, dated 1881117 it says, '. . . one of three picturesquely located mills of which Mr. J. B. Green, of TovU House, is the chief owner . . .' but KeUy's 1882 Directory118 gives AUnutt, Henry & Son, Lower TovU & Ivy MUls. In the Green MSS. it says that Lower TovU MUl belonged to the grandfather of Mr. J. B. Green, present owner of Hayle MUl, who gave it to his son Lawrence. Also in the MSS. is an entry 'TovU MUl was never owned by Mr. Lawrence Green, but tbis is a mistake for Lower TovU MiU which he had but we doubt whether he had it any earHer than 1872'.119 In a Day Book kept by C. Larkin between 1859 to 1919 now in the possession of Mr. Ted Bincham there are several entries related to this mUl: 'I860 Sept. Putting new Boyler in at Tovil' '1861 Feb. repairing upright Boyler' '1861 Nov. Enlargening Mill head at Tovil' '1862 Nov. Piper put new iron water wheel shaft in at Tovil and new geared the Pet wheel.' '1863 Mar. took lower machine water wheel out Tovil.' '1866 May Jonathan put in new Boyler 46 horsepower and turned old one round at Tovil.' '1873 1 Jan. Mr. Green took possession of MUls.' '1871 Feb. Potter repaired steam engine up at Tovil.' 10> Ibid., xiv. 110 Kentish Chronicle, 28th May, 1802. 111 Maidstone Rate Book, xvii. 112 Victoria County History of Kent, iii, 418. 118 Phippen (1839), op. cit. 114 Bagshaw (1847), op. cit., i, 71. 116 KeUy's (1852), op. cit. 118 Munkton (1854), op. cit., 65. 117 Industries of Maidstone (1881), op. cit., 4. 118 KeUy's (1882), op. cit., 352. 119 J. Barcham Green MSS., Doc. J, Sheet i. 179 R. J. SPAIN '1873 6th & 6th July Harrison put new arms in farther side of water wheel at Tovil.' '1876 13th August, started gas engine at Tovil.' '1881 June. Put new steam Boyler in at Tovil.' '1889 19th Oct. Lower Tovil paper mill burnt down.' Apparently during this period when the mUl was owned by the Green famUy there existed a common maintenance arrangement between Lower TovU and Hayle MiU. In another notebook120 apparently kept by a buUder, entitled 'Memorandum for TovU and Ivy MUls' there are the foUowing notes: 'New Steam Boiler put to work June 8/82 @ Lower Tovil Mill. Still 14 days.' 'June 1883—Pit Wheel Geared water side at Lower Tovil. Wheel striped @ Midnight of Friday June 22nd 1883. Wheel started again June 27th 1883. Worked long days.' 'Gas Engine sold Aug. 28/83 Price £250.' KeUy's 1895 Directory gives AUnutt Henry & Son paper manufacturers. 121 The Kent Archives map of the proposed Maidstone and Loose RaUway122 shows Lower TovU MUl buUdings and waterways very clearly. It confirms that this mUl was not served by a mUl pond. Mr. Ted Bincham of Loose moved to Lower TovU in 1924 and retired in 1966. He remembers the waterwheel as being overshot, 18 ft. diameter and 14 ft. wide mounted on.a sohd square cast-Hon shaft constructed with cast-Hon radial arms and steel buckets and flanges. I t was last used in 1932 when it was driving agitators in pulp chests. At that time a new process or production reqmred a greater agitator speed and every effort was made to make the wheel turn faster, but to no avaU, and subsequently a steam engine was put in to take over its task. When the wheel was in use the task of regulating and controlling the wheel was undertaken by the old hands of the mUl whose experience and skUl resulted in the most economic use of the mUl-stream. Lower TovU MUl is buUt on a bank and the wheel was deep down inside the mUl completely under cover. I t was not served direct from the stream but fed by an eight-inch diameter cast-Hon pipe from Lower Crisbrook mUl pond. The origin of this pecuhar arrangement was apparently connected with ancient water rights which this mUl held. When the gate in the trough above the wheel was lowered the water was diverted sideways into a red brick pocket where it entered an 18-in. diameter cast-Hon bypass pipe. Imported greenheart was used elsewhere for the wheel cogs, which 128 Ibid. 121 Kelly's (1895), op. cit., 386. 122 K.A.O. Q./Rum 402, Books of Reference 402A, 402B. 180 THE LOOSE WATERMILLS, II was very difficult to work. In Kent, however, applewood was popular. Between the pit-wheel and the vertical agitator shafts the drive took a rather pecuhar Hne, involving three lay shafts with bevel and spur gears, including one shaft which was inclined in an unusual plane. In 1941 the owners aUowed the wheel to be used for scrap metal for the war effort. Mr. Bincham remembers the shaft as weighing two tons five hundredweights and being some 14 to 15 in. square. Some time later the cast-Hon gut was removed. On one of its sections was cast the date of 1785 and the name of its maker, Medway Foundry, Peter St., Maidstone. He distinctly remembers the gut section being very thick, of exceUent cast-Hon and Hi remarkable condition, though the bolts were badly corroded and snapped Hke carrots. BBIDGE MILL In a grant to SH George Brooke, Lord Cobham, dated 29th February, in the fifth year of Edward the Sixth's reign (1551), there was mcluded a fuUHig mUl at Maidstone in the occupation of George Pyend, described as late belonging to the CoUege of AU Saints, Maidstone.123 Five years later Hi 1556 an indenture from SH George Brooke to others included: 'And all that our tenement called To veil, and all lands, meadows, feedings and pastures, and all its appurtenances, let at the annual rent of £21. And all that our fulling mill, in Maidstone aforesaid, now or late in the occupation of Simon Pien . . .'124 In 1562 Lord Cobham, let to John Jackson, citizen and founder of London, by contract at a rent of £45, the site of the College and other messuages and lands in the tenure of John Bennet, WiHiam Green, George Peene, and Simon Smythe. A description of the Manor of Maidstone, dated 1650,125 includes various TovU properties which were bounded by CoUege property. However, as the CoUege was not part of the Manor no detaUs of it were given and consequently it is not possible to determine where the property lay. The CoUege fulling mUl is mentioned for the last time Hi 1698 when an Act of Parliament was passed for vesting certam lands and hereditaments Hi Maidstone and elsewhere in the County of Kent, in trustees, for the benefit of Diana CecU and her heHs, including: '. . .all those two parcels of meadow ground next Peen's Mill Stream, containing 4 acres . . .'12° '. . . and aU that messuage, tenement, and fulling mill, in To veil, and all thereto belonging.'127 123 Beale Poste, AU Saints CoUege Maidstone (1847), 61. 121 Ibid., 71. 125 Clement Taylor Smythe MSS., iii, 74. 128 Poste, op. cit., 75. 127 Ibid., 76. 181 R. J. SPAIN The area caUed TovU could be said to extend up the vaUey to include Lower Crisbrook MUl, which to our knowledge has been Hi the hands of the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury since the Dissolution. Between that miU and the River Medway are three other watermUl sites, caUed Upper TovU, Lower TovU and Bridge MUL Both Upper and Lower TovU MUls may be identified as being paper mUls several years before 1690. The foregoing evidence strongly suggests that the fulling mUl at TovU immediately before 1700 was Bridge MiU. The name of Simon Peene occurs Hi the first two Maidstone Rate Books128 under TovU. For many years he was assessed for two properties and his name consistently headed the TovU Hst suggesting that if the assessors made theH entries in a logical order working generally upstream, that this property was close to the river. Symon Peene's two properties were valued, in the first entry of April 1668 as £11 and £4. Subsequent entries reveal that the £11 entry did not include a mUl. It is likely that the £4 entry was for Bridge MUl. Other mUl assessments of this period show that such a value would be of the right order, viz. Richard Parson at Lower Crisbrook in 1668 being for £3; WUliam Lanes at Lower TovU in 1679 was assessed for £4; and Philip Bassock probably for Upper Crisbrook Hi 1668 for £4. It is quite possible that the Symon Peene of the Rate Books was an alternative speUing of Simon Pine, who was a fuUer at TovU.129 He was born in 1634 and died Hi 1681 which agrees with the last entry of Symon Peene Hi the Rate Books, dated 28th May, 1680.130 The next hst gives 'Widdow Peene' as the occupier of the relevant property. SimUar entries continue at least until 1684. The assessment dated 20th June, 1685, gives the name of Stephen Fowle in place of Widow Peene and the rate is £6. The last entry of his name is dated 26th June, 1697.131 The Canterbury Marriage Licences list a Stephen Fowle, fuUer of Maidstone, as bridegroom on 19th January, 1634.132 He was probably the occupier of the CoUege MUl Hi 1650 and father of the Stephen Fowle occurring in the Rate Books. Some time, probably after 1698 and before 19th January, 1704, this fulling mill was replaced by a gunpowder mUl since the assessment of that year133 Hicludes an entry of 'The Powder MUls'. I t is doubtful that the old mUl was puUed down, but more probably converted in part or whole, for the faUing stocks of the fulling apparatus were very simUar in construction to a stamp 128 Maidstone Rate Book, i, ii. 120 Russell, History of Maidstone, Errata and Addenda applicable to text pages 152 and 155. 130 Maidstone Rate Book, ii. 131 Ibid., iii. 132 Canterbury Marriage Licences, ii, col. 363. 133 Maidstone Rate Book, iv. 182 THE LOOSE WATERMILLS, II mUl. In place of the water-fed troughs were mortars in which a few pounds of powder would be beaten at a time by heavy lignum vitae pestles. In July 1731 the inevitable happened, for through somebody's neghgence or design there was an explosion at the mUl. Maidstone at this time did not have a news-sheet but the event was recorded in at least two papers, The Kentish Post or Canterbury News Letter and The Gentleman's Magazine. The Gentleman's Magazine or Monthly Intelligencier described the occurrence in then Hst of Deaths and Casualties:134 '23. (July). A powder mill at Maidstone in Kent blew-up, by which two Men and a Child were killed; A Paper-Mill and a House adjoining were destroyed; The Tiling and Windows of Several Houses, and the Windows of a Church at a great distance very much Shatter'd.' A hundred years after the event it was recorded for the second and last tune in a local history book:135 'This, many years ago, was a gunpowder mill, and tradition has preserved the memory of a severe explosion occurring here, occasioning the loss of several lives; by which the farm-house on the opposite bank of the river was so much shaken, the direction of the wind concurring with the force of the shock, as to require part of it to be supported with props for many years afterwards, and which indeed was done till lately, when it was pulled down.' A considerable quantity of powder must Have been ignited for besides the destruction of nearby property the church in question, at TovU, stands on a shght rise some 1,000 ft. from the site of the old powder mUl. I t is possible that the mUl was employing edge stones for the working of the powder in quantities of 40-50 lb. at a time and thus the stocks close by would have been far greater than those of an old type stamper mUl. I have examined aU the Overseers Accounts for 1731,136 particularly the sections entitled 'Extraordinaries' with the hope that some rehef may have been given to those who suffered from the explosion, but no such entry is forthcoming. Clearly the responsibUity for such action was entirely private. It is surprising that even though two assessments were made per year the destruction of this miU and damage to other tenements is not reflected in the rate figures in any way. The entry 'Powder MiUs and Meadow £10' continues untU the year 1741.137 How long the site remained dereUct is anybody's guess though I imagine rebuUding of the 131 1731, i, 309. 135 J. Smith, Printer and Publisher (1839), Topography and Directory of Maidstone, 87. 188 Maidstone Rate Book, vi. 137 Ibid., vii. 183 R. J. SPAIN new mUl would have begun faHly soon after. In 1742 the relevant entry is 'Mr. Dickaford'. Similar entries continue until September 1746, when it became 'James Appleton late Dickaford'. It would appear that this mUl had been converted to corn milling for James Appleton was a miUer, who earher worked Upper Crisbrook and the Church MUls at Maidstone. Sometimes foUowing September 1746 and before July 1755, the miU was converted from corn milling to the production of oU. On 30th July, 1755, Richard and John Day of Montague Close, Southwark, insured an oU mUl with two wheels turned by water situated at TovU.138 Each wheel probably powered a set of Hon-shod stampers which crushed the linseed or rape seeds Hi mortars beneath. The paste was then placed in bags of horse-haH and pressed between Hon plates and wooden wedges by other stampers. The oU obtained ran out through holes in the trough to containers or barrels beneath. Other substances from which the oU was difficult to obtain usmg stampers were prepared by crushing under edge stones. The reference to two water wheels at this miU is interesting. Were they fed by separate ponds? It is unhkely that the owners of the new oU mUl acquHed the paper mUl nearby. The Rate Books certainly show no change of occupancy before 1746. However, the assessments from 1746 to 1763 are missing. During this period it is probable that Lower TovU MUl was occupied by the Pine famUy who controlled several local paper miUs and a corn mill. With the growing demand for paper and the consequent exploitation of new water-miU sites together with the conversion and extension of existing mUls, it is most unlikely that the Pine famUy would have sold or leased the site to the new seed crushing venture close by. The indication from the reference is that a single oU miU had two wheels. The distance between the tail-race of Lower TovU MUl and the Medway is approximately 550 feet. On the 1865 Six-Inch Ordnance Survey map there is a miUpond immediately downstream from the Tovil-West Farleigh road which crosses the taUrace of Lower TovU MUl, and beside its western bank a large buUding noted as OU MUl. If the mid-eighteenth century mUl had buddings on both banks they would have probably appeared on the 1865 Ordnance Survey map for factories rarely contract in floor area. It seems most probable that one of the waterwheels was therefore placed in front of the other and fed from the same miUpond by an extended mUl race. In 1763 the relevant Rate Book entry is 'Day & Co,'139 and in October, 1769, 'John Day & Co,'. Later in 1772140 the entry is 'Richard 138 Harold W. Brace (1960), A History of Seed Crushing in Great Britain, 27. 139 Maidstone Rate Book, viii. 119 Ibid., ix. 184 THE LOOSE WATERMILLS, II Day' and simUar entries continue until January 1801.m In October, 1802, the entry is 'Jonathan and Robert Stone'. The Stone famUy continued Hi occupation untU 1820,142 when the entry reads 'Day, House and MUl. The last entry Hi the Maidstone Rate Books, dated 8th May, 1822, reads the same. In 1776, Seymour wrote of this miU as being famous, where the workmen were employed night and day in the manufacture of Unseed oU, the seeds being imported from Archangel.143 By virtue of its position in the vaUey, this miU, being the furthest downstream, received a greater water throughput than any other. I t also had the advantage of employing the River Medway to carry its raw material and products. But being near the river had its disadvantages. In whiter the lower Medway regularly floods. The premises of Bridge MUl must have been flooded on many occasions, stopping the water wheels and submerging the mUl floors. A description of the mUl in 1881 mcluded: '. . . flooding causes considerable disorder in the warehouses, and I am informed that in the last few years the river caused considerable damage to the buildings now marking the site.'141 Pigot's Directory of 1824 gives WiUiam Thomas Steinmetz as being a seed crusher at TovU. This was Bridge MiU. In 1834 the mUl was reported as making linseed oU and oil cake.145 In 1858, the miU passed to Thomas WUliam Brook. By 1881 the mUl was using linseed (or flax seed), rape (or French turnip) seed, and cotton seed for making oU and cattle cake which was occasionaUy used for manure on farm land.146 Sometime after the middle of the century the mUl was converted to hydraulic box presses. At that time there were two separate buUdings, called Upper and Lower MiUs each containing five sides of four box presses, the total crushing capacity being about three tons a week.147 The 1865 Ordnance Survey map only shows one buUding, however. Mr. T. W. Brook died in 1877, and Hi 1899 the mUl was closed down because of intense competition, and Alfred Brook, son of T. W. Brook, went to Gainsborough. In 1889 there was a fire at this oU mUl.148 Shortly after 1899 Albert E. Reed took over the mUl and converted it to the manufacture of paper. When water power was abandoned is not clear. No memory of a waterwheel exists at Reeds. Perhaps it is 111 Ibid., x-xiii. 112 Ibid., xiv-xvii. 145 Seymour (1776), Survey of Kent, 547. 144 Industries of Maidstone (1881), op. ait. 143 S. C. Lamprey, Maidstone & its Environs. 140 Industries of Maidstone (1881), op. cit. 147 Brace (1960), op. cit. 148 J. Barcham Green MSS., C. Larkin's notebook, 1858-1919. 185 R. J. SPAIN significant that in 1881 the Hon roUers, stones and presses were aU worked by three steam engines totalling 80 hp. The wheel may have been abandoned by tbis date, certainly for powering the larger items of equipment, although usuaUy some smaU task is found to keep the wheel moving. For the last few hundred feet before entering the Medway the Loose stream is lost to view excepting a short stretch which can be seen beside the pulp stacks close to the river bank. The final entry to the river is made through a three-foot diameter concrete pipe running through the bank. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am indebted to Dr. F. HuU and his staff at the Kent Archives Office and Mr. L. R. A. Grove of Maidstone Museum. I am especiaUy grateful to Mr. J. Barcham Green and Mr. Remy Green for aUowing me to peruse and extract from their invaluable MSS. collection at Hayle MUl; Mr. Alan WUson for the considerable quantity of firsthand knowledge and memories which he has readUy imparted to me; and my uncle, Mr. AU Spain, for his memories and for introducing me to the Loose vaUey and subsequently to many of the people whom I name here. My sincere thanks to Mr. L. A. Scott and my wife for giving me the benefit of theH critical sense and constructive suggestions. I would Hke to thank the foUowing people of the vaUey who have contributed in various ways to this study: Messrs. Ted Bincham, H. R. Broadbent, R. Esland, J. GUes, Tom Hartridge, Ronald Haynes, T. Rose, John L. Short, WUham Skinner Snr., Wilham Skinner Jnr., and BUI Wickham. 186