Winterbourne Steepleton - The Water Mill
Research by Richard Crumbleholme
History : The very early records do not locate the mill in the village but it appears to have been worth a reasonable amount both before and after the Black Death (1348). This suggests that the mill was well used.
1332 Wynt er born Stipulton (Dorset Lay Subsidy Roll)
De Hug one Molend inario viij.d.q.
(Translates literally as Hugh the miller—being assessed at £7)
1382 Writ (372) at Westminster on 12th September concerning John Devereux.
On the day that he died, he held in his demesne as of fee 1 messuage 60 acres of land, 40 acres of pasture and 1 water mill in Wynterborne Stypulton of the Earl of March by knight service. The said messuage land pasture and mill are worth in all issues according to their true value yearly 24s 4d.
1788 Estate Map (Bolton Papers) – The mill is shown in the present location but with no stream shown adjoining the road (ie stream runs through mill only)
1798 Lieutenancy Records (1798-1852) DCRO ref LB : 1/1
Millers and Bakers recorded in August 1798
Ugglescombe Hundred - Winterbourne Steepleton
Joseph Groves : 1 Mill; Joseph Groves : 1 oven
1841 Tithe Map - The mill is again shown with no stream adjoining road.
Plot No3 on map with landowner listed as Rev Skerry and occupier Henry Groves (Dwelling house, Grist mill & garden)
Census & Kellys Directory Listings :
1848 Census & Kellys Directory - 1 miller (Henry Groves)
1865 Kellys Directory—Henry Groves miller
1871 Census - 2 millers
1880 Census & Kellys Directory - Mrs Mary Groves miller
1886 1st Edition OS map (6”) - Steepleton mill (corn)
1889 Census & Kellys Directory - William Henry Elford, miller (water) & baker
1962 – Estate Sale : Mill and cottage included in sale of the Steepleton Manor Estate
1963 - Newcomen Society (Dorset Water Mills Index – DCRO ROH 19/3/12)
Records the mill as derelict but complete with two separate overshot waterwheels set abreast – both are 2400mm in diameter, one being 1800mm wide and the other only 450mm wide. Both wheels were made by Henry George Martin who was established in Dorchester in 1890. It is presumed that the smaller one was for summer use when the “winterbourne” stream's flow was reduced.
1970 RCHM Dorset Vol 2, Part 2 p396 – records the mill and millhouse :
The house of two storeys with stone rubble walls and slated roof, is of the 17 th century but has been partly rebuilt in brick and has a wing added in the 18 th century. On plan the original part comprises one room with a chimney at one end and a small room off it at the other end now divided for a staicase. The watermill adjoining the house was rebuilt in brick in the late 18 th century.
2007 The Millhouse is still occupied but watermill is in very poor condition with the mill leat disused and dry.
The site and arrangement :
Operating a water mill on a winterborne stream called for some water engineering in order to store water in adequate volume and head to operate the mill. The original arrangement is far from certain but the C19th layout is shown below.
At the west end of the village, the south Winterborne stream runs through Steepleton Water which was a large pond covering approximately one acre in area. In later years, it was used as watercress beds but today is sadly overgrown. To the east of the modern slip road a mill pond existed to feed the leat.
This “storage” pond was feed by the stream and a man made channel or “leat” was carefully constructed to convey water approximately 750 metres from the ponds to the mill. A series of weirs and hatches along the length of the leat allowed water to be regulated to suit the requirements of the mill. This needed special attention during the summer months when water was scarce.
The leat runs at a higher level and to the north of the roadside stream. Water still flows through the western end but it has been blocked approximately half way along its course and the remaining eastern section is now derelict although its route and some hatches are still visible. Earlier maps appear to show this leat as the main water course through the village and this may reflect the fact that every drop of water was important.
Immediately behind the mill, the leat supplied water to a deep walled mill pond which can also still be seen and acted as a final water store. The miller would be able to select the wheel to be used and regulate its speed by adjusting the final hatch. There was also a bypass hatch opened when the mill was not in use to let the water flow directly into the tail race pond. This area appears to have been called “The Creek”
This final pond still survives in front of the Mill Lane cottages and is now kept full of water via a pipe from the stream. Having driven the mill, water was finally returned to the stream adjacent to the present day road bridge.
The mill appears to have always ground corn and from the later Kelly's directories, it seems that an oven existed on the same site as the miller is also listed as a baker. Many local houses had bread ovens (Old Manor Cottage has a 1500mm diameter one) and locals would have probably taken their corn to the mill as required.
There is a section of a millstone (presumed from the mill) set in the riverbank immediately west of the small footbridge adjacent to the Old Rectory.
Research by : Richard Crumbleholme
Sources : Dorset History Centre & Dorset County Museum