1870s photo of St Catherine’s
Lock showing the Saw Mill with
Half Way House in the middle
distance.
Photo courtesy of Winchester College Library
OCTOBER 2009
Tuesday, 27th
Met Mike Clark of Hampshire
Buildings Preservation Trust
with our Chairman, Mick
Edgeworth, to take a preliminary
look at the water power site of
the recorded wood sawmill at St.
Catherine’s Lock on the Itchen
Navigation. We also met Polly
Whyte who is overseeing the
improvements to the towpath etc.
on the Navigation. We found a
shaped “cut-out” in the wing
wall which would appear to have
accommodated a wheel driving a
saw. It’s positioning also fits
in with the anecdotal
information that the wheel would
only run when the lock was
empty!
NOVEMBER 2009
Thursday, 5th
Alan Stoyal joined HMG in
visiting Broughton Manor Barn
Mill and Sir Philip Trousdel’s
House at East Mills near
Fordingbridge. Some answers
found on both buildings. On Sir
Philip’s House, Alan felt that
the underground channels and
voids which have been found were
connected with the East Mills
production to cut and prepare
“Best Arbroath” Double “O” Sails
for commercial sailing ships,
probably in the dyeing process.
Alan thought that Broughton
Manor Barn Mill is a very
important mill of its type,
being water driven, particularly
the well preserved “compass arm”
waterwheel. We hope soon to be
able to commence the cleaning
process which must be carried
out before a full survey is
started.
Monday, 16th
With
Mick Edgeworth and John
Christmas to St. Catherine’s
Lock to help the volunteers of
Hampshire and IOW Wildlife Trust
with the inspection of St.
Catherine’s Lock and the water
power site. Luckily, JC had
brought along his “Tirfor Winch”
which when hitched to a nearby
oak tree could be used to pull
the stone ends of the mill axle
out of the watercourse; this not
helped by us not being allowed
to go into the water (about 4”
deep) because we had not been on
an appropriate course!!
However, other volunteers had
been on the course so we could
get a wire around the large
stones to get them to where they
could be inspected.
Tuesday, 17th
Tony
Yoward and I spoke to the
members of the Rogate Society on
“So you think you know about
Industrial Archaeology”, which
they enjoyed.
Saturday, 21st
Another
successful day’s milling at
Longbridge Mill.
Tuesday, 1st
Work
commenced by JC and Tony the
engineer on the badly cracked
pit wheel at Hockley. We
are looking forward to possibly
running the wheel on our open
day on January 1st
2010.
Monday, 2nd
I
spoke to Eastleigh Railway
Engineering Society on the
“History of the Postcard”.
DECEMBER 2009
Tuesday, 8th
I
was contacted by our member,
Michael Carden, who has been
kind enough to present our HMG
Library with the book “Flour
Milling” from the library of his
next-door neighbour who was
Frederick John G. Keevil.
From a milling family in
Winchester, his father bought
Abbey Mill in 1928. More
details on the
family appeared in the last
newsletter in a very full
article by Michael who also gave
me, from Mr. Keevil’s
collection, a bill and thrift
which he had found in the river
by Abbey Mill and which he felt
was quite old - being smaller
than the usual Victorian tools.
I have passed both items to our
Chairman for safe-keeping.
Thank you very much Michael!
Thursday, 10th
A
party consisting of most of the
regular milling crew at
Longbridge Mill met at the mill
for our annual Christmas dinner.
Friday, 11th
I
talked to a very interested
party of Porchester Wives Club
on the “History of Milling.
Saturday, 12th
HMG Quarterly meeting this time
held at the Abbey Hotel in
Romsey. The use of the room
arranged by JC. Thanks John.
Saturday, 19th
A
very busy milling day at
Longbridge Mill; usual crew took
part.
JANUARY 2010
Friday, 1st New Year’s Day
I
was delighted to attend the open
day at Hockley Mill on FOKABs
annual running day. This
brought in visitors on almost
all the buses that called at the
top of the road. I was
scheduled for the afternoon
shift and arrived at 1pm.
Others I saw and spoke to were
Nigel and Angela Smith, Gavin
Bowie and the chief organiser,
Eleanor Yates. We estimate
approximately 100 people came to
the mill. A very good day but
very cold. As my hands warmed
up in the car going home, the
pain brought tears to my eyes!
Thursday, 7th
Meeting arranged ref. the
turbines at Bishopstoke
cancelled due to the bad
weather.
Friday, 8th
Conversation with Basil Hunt
giving consideration to various
works at Longbridge Mill which
will need doing this coming
spring. Thursday 13th
Re-convened meeting at River Inn
regarding the restoration of
Armfield Turbines with
representatives from HMG,
Eastleigh Borough Council
Engineers &“Sustainability”
Departments, Bishopstoke Parish
Council and the contractor to
give estimates. Many subjects
covered and offers of help both
practically and financial appear
to be
Monday, 18th
With Mick Edgeworth to inspect
plans for alterations to City
Mill, Winchester and Chilland
Mill near Itchen Abbas. Much new
information on Chilland Mill in
far reaching research into its
history, very impressive.
Friday, 22nd
Crux
Easton Wind Engine Committee
Meeting.
Saturday, 23rd
Milling day at Longbridge, the
first milling of the new
decade. Another cold but
reasonable day with quite a lot
of visitors and with plenty of
milling to do! The River Loddon
was pretty high and we were able
to mill without having to put in
the extra height boards which we
have normally to place along the
top of the weir. The wheel is
running very smoothly and the
stones are working very well
since Basil and Fred lifted and
cleaned them. 4 x 25kg of
conditioned wheat was milled
with the stones producing a
super grade of flour. The
working crew of Basil, Fred,
Mick, Gavin, Sheila and the
President are now a pretty
seasoned lot with each knowing
what needs doing at any
particular time. And all have
their specialty - mine is
putting up the SPAB red flag to
indicate milling is taking
place!!! Thanks to all the gang
for help.
