CBA South Midlands Spring Conference

Saturday 25th April 2009 at 9.30am

Church Hall, Church End, Elstow, Beds (map overleaf)

 

Grist to the mill: recent work on windmills and watermills

Pitstone Windmill (photo courtesy of Buckinghamshire County Council)

 

Speakers to include:

Andy Chapman on Tansor windmill and West Cotton watermill;

Michael Hardy on Lacey Green windmill; Gary Marshall on the Stowe Estate sawmill and Stan Cauvain on Pann Mill watermill.

 

Review: CBA South Midlands Elstow Conference on Mills

The meeting started with Brian Giggins introducing Andy Chapman of Northants Archaeology to talk about West Cotton watermills and Tansor windmill. Andy explained that when the West Cotton excavation started there was no expectation that a watermill would be found let alone a number of them. The excavation showed that unusually the water wheels were horizontal, in the Saxon fashion, rather than the normal vertical; he then spoke about the Tansor windmill. Steve Capell-Davies then gave a most interesting account of the watermills on the Thames. This was profusely illustrated with photographs showing many of the mills in their heyday.

The morning session continued with Hugh Howes telling us about Stevington windmill, a post mill built in about 1770. The mill has recently been restored and is operated on some occasions. The Bomham and Stotfold watermills were also described.

Over lunch those attending the Conference were able to visit the nearby Moot Hall which is a very impressive medieval timber-framed building with two dragon beams. These allow jetted upper floors on adjoining sides.

The afternoon session started with Michael Hardy speaking on the restoration of Lacy Green windmill. The mill dates from about 1650 and is the oldest smock mill in the country. During the restoration the mill was pulled back into shape, strengthened and made waterproof.
Gary Marshall of the National Trust told us about the Stowe estate saw-mill survey. It is difficult to know what to do with the remains as too little is left to restore. Finally Stan Cauvain told us about his work at Pan Mill. During this work it became apparent that what we see today is pure invention and that the actual mill had a different orientation.

Review by Barry Horne

Autumn Conference 2009

 

'Cottage Architecture of the Banbury Region – Building traditions and research into vernacular architecture'

 

'Roman Northamptonshire '