The west end of the Mill is considered to be 16th
Century and the centre is much older. In 1796 the
bridge was rebuilt, and soon afterwards part of the
house was rebuilt and the open water wheel covered
in, major reconstructions took place to the fabric
of the Mill and all the present water milling
machinery was installed so that this contains a very
modern layout as water mills go, in fact the latest
in Stone flour milling machinery.
The Mill is built astride the river [the southern
River Wey] facing S.E. with a pond of some 4 acres
in front which provides the power to turn the breast
shot Water Wheel (12 ft diameter x 7½ ft wide). The
'head,' which is the height between the pond level
and the tail water, is approximately 7 ft. The flow
is reliable and stable throughout all seasons, and
is sufficient to drive a pair of Millstones
perpetually.
The Iron Water Wheel was installed by Coopers of
Romsey in 1926 when the old wooden one (oak and elm)
was scrapped because of old age, but the shaft
(iron) was reused for the new Wheel.
There are 4 pairs of Mill stones - 3 pairs French
Burr (best for wheat flour) and 1 pair Derby Peak
(oats & barley). The stones are 48 inches in
diameter and weigh about 1¼ tons, and the dressing
is '3 furrows to a harp'. The Water Wheel will drive
2 pairs of Millstones at a time.
Text from a pamphlet by John & Peter Ellis,
held on
