historical Finds

Within the garden of the Mill House, a shard of Roman Grey pottery ware was found in November 2022.  This confirms the site was used during the Roman occupation.

Image: © Sandy Potter, 2022: Roman Grey Pottery found in Nov 2022

Roman coins in the reign of Antoninius Pius  43 AD to 409 AD found in the field close to The Old Mill House stables in 1842.

 They comprised a small bronze and a large bronze of Antoninus Pius. 

Image: Example of what the coin would have looked like - Wessex Coins

Archaeologist (M Hurford) finds at Bradbourne Mill the oldest hand made kiln tile for drying corn in the Peak District! It is found in the Mill House garden and likely dates between 1533 to 1630.

Image:  © Sandy Potter, 2022: Piece of a kiln tile found in Nov 2022

Dendra dating of the mill workings in 2022 (Robert Howard and Alison Arnold NTRDL), confirms an earlier mill than the stone quoin date of 1750.  The frame was secured to its foundations and confirms the size of the Water Mill at 1625-1630. 

We are thought to be housing some of the oldest existing mill workings in the Peak District and Derbyshire (Alan Gifford)

These tear shaped pattering in the mill workings and throughout the property, are called Protection Marks. 

They were created to ward off the threat of evil, witches and fire. The wood would have been scorched with a candle flame at a 45 degree angle to create this unique shape. 

If witches should appear, these marks would illuminate and deter any witches from burning down the mill!

Archaeologists have found evidence of earlier foundations of an existing Mill. Likely to have been smaller and with one overshot wheel, not two. 

The larger Mill we see today would have likely been created due to a significant  increase in demand of corn, with a second overshot wheel added for the same effect.