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There has been a Mill on this site in
Wheathampstead for over 1000 years and for nearly all of that time it was
producing food for the community from grain grown in the area. Wheathampstead is traditionally known as the
home of wheat and Bury Farm is supposed to have been the place where wheat was
first grown in this country.
Until the advent of the steam engine and
later electricity, the water wheel was a very valuable asset to any community
and vital to progress. The wheel and
most of the ancillary equipment was removed from this building about 20 years
ago.
Flour milling was one of our most ancient
industries and changed very little until the middle of the last century after
which the ground wheat was dressed through silk to separate the fibre. This was, and still is used as animal
feed. At this time a new system for
grinding the wheat was introduced, using grooved steel rollers in place of the
traditional stones. This invention was
a great step forward producing a cleaner and more hygienic flour at less cost.
It was at this time that my grandfather
bought Batford Mill and installed a new roller plant, ceasing flour production
at Wheathampstead. From then on it
produced animal food and finally a seed cleaning and dressing plant were
installed to produce agricultural seed.
Tradition has it that flour ground at this
mill was at one period used to make bread for the Royal Household. A great many stories concerning the mill
have been handed down and it is reported that an inscription on an ancient
tombstone in Hertford Churchyard record the fact that the deceased when once
‘being possessed of the Devil, fell through the water wheel at Wheathampstead
and came out alive’. The old water
wheel and all the gearings were made of wood but this was practically all
replaced by iron and steel equipment from Kilmarnock in about 1895.
There are many facing bricks with
inscriptions both on the front of the mill and on the new mill house (now
Busby’s the Chemists). It appears that
the bricklayers would inscribe on a brick one’s initials and the date for
1/-. This coin they promised to cover
with the brick. I am told that these
shillings were soon removed and found their way across the road to the Bull a little
later in the day where 1/- bought 6 pints of beer.
After considering the history of the mill
going back 1000 years, it is refreshing to see the building put to good use and
given a new lease of life. I hope that
many more generations to come will benefit from all our efforts.
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Some early Tenants
Prior to 1500 the Mill, along with the
Manor House, belonged to the Abbot.
From 1500, the properties belonged to the ecclesiastical
commissioners. Some early tenants were
–
1516 William Carter leased the Mill
for £4/-/- per year
1561 George Carpenter leased the Mill
for 21 years at eleven and a half quarters of wheat, reserving fishing rights.
1571 Lease to Thomas Carpenter of a
Watermill at Wheathampstead, reserving the banks of the river and half the eels
taken at the Mill for 11 years at twelve and a half quarters of wheat per
annum.
1598 John Clark. Watermill, reserving fishing rights. At 10
quarters oats, half wheat, 2 oatmeal and 4 capons.
1613 John Clark. Watermill, except all fishing rights and
half of the eels. 21 years and ten and
half quarters, 2 oatmeal and 4 capons.
1634 Lease of Watermill, except
fishing rights, for 3 lives at ten and a half wheat, 2 oats, t oatmeal and 4
capons.
1641 lease of Watermill on the same
terms.
1723 Lease of Watermill to George
Carpenter (terms unknown).
On the 28th July 1882 George
Titmuss purchased the Mill from The Honourable Fredrick Edward Gould
Lambert, commonly called Viscount Kilcoursie.
To the sum of £1,500. To this
day, the property remains in the ownership of the Titmuss family
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