Priory Pool & Mills

December 1934

PRIORY POOL AND MILLS

Excavations revealed the depth of the Priory Pool. It is not known when the pool was made, but by what was revealed I should say about 13th century, or at least enlarged then. Its water was stored for the Prior's Mill, which stood where the three brick houses still stand in front of the office of Messrs. Newark's, timber merchants. At the rear still stands the old Mill House, converted into two cottages. Its original small windows are filled up with brick, also one gable end has been restored while the other is in its original state but hidden by other houses. The Mill was destroyed by the man who built the three brick houses in 1848. The Mill wheel stood at the north end of the Mill and the water race was discovered when making the new river bed. The wheel must have been an undershot one as the race was 14 feet 6 inches in depth. Around the race which carried the water, large sand stones had been placed for the purpose of keeping the mud and grit from entering. It is interesting to know that an assize was kept of the storage of water, for no mill further down the river could grind until the first mill released its water. If a miller kept too much water he was fined 6/8; half of which went towards the building of the city wall, and the other half to his Craft. At the time of floods the flood gates were to be opened under penalty of a fine of 20 shillings.

In 1430, one penny per strike was charged for the grinding of wheat or rye. No toll was to be taken, under penalty of a fine of 20 pence to the Mayor and 20 pence to the Bailiffs, Also, Millers were sworn twice a year to be true. They also had to join in the procession on Corpus Christi day, and for Watch on Midsummer even. In 1474, they were only allowed to have measures at the Mill that were sealed according to the King's standard.

At this time the leet ordered that they should have 1 quart of wheat for the grinding of one bushel, and another quart if he should fetch the corn to be ground; whilst only one pint for each purpose was allowed if grinding malt. They were not to water any man's corn to make it weigh heavier, nor to give inferior corn in place of good. In order, also, to help keep the miller honest, he was only allowed to keep 3 hens and 1 cock, under penalty of a fine of 40 pence. If, after being fined three times he still offended, he was put in the pillory. In 1541 a charge of 7d. per quarter only was allowed for grinding the baker's breadcorn, and he was forbidden to keep either pigs or ducks under penalty of a fine of 6/8. In 1544 it was ordered that the millers should be a fellowship and Craft of their own, but in 1551 it was ordered that they should hold no assembly, as in time past. In 1549 it was enacted that all bakers should have their corn ground by resident millers and not foreign millers, and that the charge be 8d. per quarter under penalty of a fine of 3/8.

Near the Fire Station wall the race that carried the water from the mill wheel and emptied into the stream was discovered. Also a mill wheel made of oak, 41/2 ins. in width and about 17 ins. in diam., having 8 peg holes, pegs still in part of holes, while in the centre of the wheel was a square hole for fitting onto the shaft; the pegs would fit into 8 corresponding holes in the large wheel. Lower down the river, about 30 yards beyond the Fire Station, the flood gates stood.

About 20 yards of the river bed was paved with stone. In the centre were large square shaped stones, and in them a groove cut about 4 ins. deep and 6 ins. wide for the gate to fit into for a stay against the floods. The gate was at least 17 feet long, and at each end a well was sunk and oak posts placed in for the wheels and chains necessary to raise or lower the gate as required. Two other mills stood between this gate and the Earl's mill in Cox Street. Altogether, from Spon End to Whitley mills were placed as often as possible.

Next month I will give a further account of discoveries in and near the pool.

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