| LEIGHTON HERITAGE GROUP | ||
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THE BLAST FURNACE LINKS |
The Corn Mill |
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The first record of a mill in Leighton is in the Domesday Book complied on the instructions of William the Conqueror around 1086 where it is shown as “a mill situated in Lestone by Rainald the Sheriff from Earl Roger". In 1253 Robert de Wodecote gave Leighton Mill to Buildwas Abbey, whether this was a gift as we now understand it is doubtful because the Bradford Hundred Roll of 1255 shows that the Abbott had bought it. Records of 1327 mention only three people in Leighton, one of these was John the Miller. Only people who had property worth more than 10 shillings (50p) were noted. It was common practice that when the grain was taken to be milled the miller didn’t charge a monetary fee but kept a proportion of the flour he had just made. As shown above, millers were very rarely poor people. Originally, the water wheel and mill workings were made of wood, but around 1800 it was replaced with iron. Some of the cogwheels were made of cast-iron with teeth of wood from holly and hornbeam trees. This allowed them to be easily replaceable, made for quieter running and reduced flammability. The mill was still working and grinding corn for local farmers until the mid 1930s. The mill was the last in a series of three along the stream that runs down from the Wrekin and was worked by an overshot waterwheel from a pond across the road. The mill pond was backfilled in the early 1960's to allow the road to be widened. Since Channel 4's 'Time Team' recorded "The Furnace in the Cellar" in May 2001 the waterwheel has been open to the public on an almost daily basis and accompanied visits can be made to the mill. |
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