Kirknewton And Westnewton : Watermills
(Information from the North East Mills Group)
Site Name: Westnewton Mill
- Grid Reference: NT903303
- First recorded 1762?
- Last recorded 1860?
This mill lay within the farm buildings at Westnewton and there was evidence of there having been an overshot waterwheel (Griffith 1974). The present lie of the land would suggest that this was little more than a farm mill, latterly at least. The former dam is still clearly visible behind a range of stone built farm buildings. The militia list of 1762 lists Thomas Dunn and Adam Henderson as millers at Westnewton though these may have been at one of the other mills in the area (e.g. Canno). The 1860s Ordnance Survey map seems to show a mill pond but this is less apparent by the 1890s edition.
Site Name: Kirknewton
- Grid Reference: NT915302
- First recorded
- Last recorded 1860?
A small dam on the flank of the hill behind Kirknewton is thought to have fed a farm mill in the village. The dam is clearly shown on a number of maps from the 1860s but none show a clear sign of use.
Picture : Kirknewton Mill (now converted to residential accommodation)
Site Name: Canno Mill
- Grid Reference: NT902318
- First recorded 1653
- Last recorded c1900
William Strother had the tithe of Canno Mill in 1653 and by 1716 it had become the property of his son Robert. The mill passed to the Orde family and was sold to George Morton of West Newton in 1776 (NCH XI (1922), 155). Armstrong's county map of 1769 marks "Canny Mill" and it is also shown on both Fryer's 1820 and Greenwood's 1828 maps.
The mill is also shown as a corn mill on the First Edition Ordnance Survey map in the 1860s. Directory entries list William Mable, James Dodd and William Turnbull Barber as millers in 1827, 1855 & 1887 respectively. The mill building still stands but is largely devoid of machinery. The present building is an extension of a much smaller mill on site with the extension enclosing the wheel into the building and adding an extra floor to the mill. The waterwheel pit is still clearly visible and internally there are signs of there having been two pairs of millstones driven by a conventional great-spur wheel arrangement. Little else remains other than a few bearing blocks and trap doors for the hoist. A drying kiln was present in what is now used as a garage. A planning application was submitted (2004) for conversion to a house.
Site Name: Lanton Mill
- Grid Reference: NT913307
- First recorded C13th
- Last recorded 1866
The mill was owned by the Corbett family in the 13th century and rented by Robert Mitford for 20 Marks. In the 14th century a tenant of the manor David Baxter was served various writs for not meeting his obligations towards the mill, namely he was to have his corn ground there and to take his share in repairing the mill and carting stones to it (NCH XI (1922, 144-5). Like Canno Mill the mill is marked on the county maps by Armstrong (1769), Fryer (1820) and Greenwood (1828) as well as on an 1843 tithe map and the 1866 Ordnance Survey. Millers are listed in 1827, John Crozier, and 1855, John and Thomas Hall, but not in 1887 when a shepherd and gamekeeper are occupiers.
Site Name: Yeavering Farm
- Grid Reference: NT936304
- First recorded 1866
- Last recorded 1950s
This farm mill is indicated by a clear race leading to a building on the 1866 Ordnance Survey map and subsequent editions up to the mid 20th century. Nothing is known about what is presumed to be a farm mill. It appears that the farm buildings have been converted recently for accommodation so any remaining signs of the former mill will probably have been lost. The Northumberland sites and monuments record suggest this as the site of 'Yeavering Mill' but this could also have been at Old Yeaverin
Signs of ponds and a possible race are also visible at Old Yeavering (NT904302), but no documentary or map evidence is known to back this up as a possible mill site.
Picture : Old Millstone At West Kirknewton Farm