1st to 4th century
Roman coins in the reign of Antoninius Pius 138-161AD found in the field close to The Old Mill House stables in 1842. Within the garden of the Mill House, a shard of Roman Grey ware was found in November 2022. These finds confirm the site was used during the Roman occupation. Carsington Waters has recently been confirmed as the site of the Roman town called Lutudarum - a central mining industry which exported igots of lead throughout the Roman Empire. Many soldiers, slaves and miners would have lived in the area and therefore a substantial requirement for bread, flour and fresh spring water would have been essential for the 300 years the Romans were here. Fresh springs are still flowing from Haven Hill Dale Brook located at the start of the mill race.
Bradbourne Mill was located within the Saxon boundary of Tissington and is the oldest recorded mill detailed in the Domesday Survey of 1066. The mill was on the border of Bradbourne/Tissington and mentioned in early charters from 1180, 1200-1215, 1247, 1260 and 1330. With a Romano-British settlement on Haven Hill near to the mill race and the presence of Roman finds around the mill, it could suggest the mill site may have been built by the Romans - watch this space!
7th century
This famous Anglian burial site is only a 10 minute walk from the oldest surviving watermill dating back to the 7th century. A rare sword and jewellery were retrieved in 1868 and now reside in the British Museum. It confirmed the graves came from a wealthy royal family most likely at the time of the emergence of the kingdom of Mercia. The numerous coin hoards found in the locality also provide evidence of the wealth generated by the silver and lead mining over the centuries.
8th century
A rare Saxon Celtic Cross Shaft exists at the entrance of All Saints Church. This famous landmark represents a mix of pagan symbols with christian imagery. Before the church was built, holy men would preach at this spot and it would be a place for the villagers of the Bradbourne Estate to gather.
It was recorded bear baiting occurred at the position of the cross shaft, but this ritual was banned in 1320.
1000 to 1100:
Foundations of 2 long barns were excavated on the west side of Bradbourne Church dating from late Saxon to early Norman origins. It was encircled by a ditch to create a wall around this area. It confirms Bradbourne extended further but shrunk after the Norman conquest.
All Saints Church was built in 1009 by Oswin, Balliff of the South Western Peaks.
(c) S Potter 2023. Photograph at the top of All Saints Church overlooking the west side of the Church towards Ballidon and Parwich.
1086:
Henry de Ferrers, Tenant-in-Chief and Lord held one mill worth 3 schillings in Tissington - part of the larger central Manor of Bradbourne. Lea Hall was the seat of the Lord of the Manor of Bradbourne and included several estates.
Image: Doomsday Entry for Tissington village
1100s:
Robert de Cauceis senior, 1st tenant of Bradbourne Estate, seneschal to the Ferrers. Image: Anglo Saxon Peak District and the size of the Bradbourne estate, which included a number of villages before Domesday. It was one of four central divisions of the Peak District. The others were Wirksworth, Bakewell and Hope. By 1205 the Manor of Bradbourne had been fragmented to consist of only Bradbourne, Ballidon, Brassington, Atlow, Aldwark and Tissington.
Image: Anglo Saxon Peak District and the size of the Bradbourne estate, which included a number of villages before Domesday. It was one of four central divisions of the Peak District. The others were Wirksworth, Bakewell and Hope. By 1205 the Manor of Bradbourne had been fragmented to consist of only Bradbourne, Ballidon, Brassington, Atlow, Aldwark and Tissington. The Lord of Bradbourne at this time was Geoffrey de Cauceis, the great grandson of Henry de Ferrers.
1122:
Robert de Cauceis II married Isabel de Ferrers, granddaughter of Henry de Ferrers.
Image: The De Cauceis Coat of Arms
1133 to 1141:
Robert de Ferrers I grants certain lands to the monks and nuns of Garendon Abbey in Lee, Bradbourne and Parwich.
Image: Bradbourne Church holds the 12th century stain glass window of Henry de Ferrer’s coat of arms depicting three horseshoes indicating his ancestry connections to the mining industry in Normandy. © S Potter 2023.
1180:
Geoffrey de Cauceis (Henry de Ferrers great grandson) grants Hugh de Okeover '2 bovates from upper town Bradbourne to the mill which Geoffrey held and 2 bovates in lower Bradbourne which Born held’. Lower Bradbourne was referred to as Nether Bradbourne which is on Brackendale Lane. This charter confirms the mill was on Tissington/Lea Hall side of Bradbourne.
Image: © Sandy Potter, 2022
1199 to 1219:
Adam de Herthill grants Roystone Grange together with the town of Ballidon to Garendon Abbey. Together with the gift of land to this Abbey from Robert Ferrers, it illustrates the land was managed as a large grange from the fields opposite the mill all the way north to Roystone Grange.
Image: Font at Ballidon Chapel © S Potter 2023. The chapel consists of a first-floor chimney probably used by one of the canons of Bradbourne in 1219 before it was exchanged for a toft in Ballidon. The font was built in the early 1100’s with an intriguing rustic font carved with fish, bear, muzzled beast, figures including a rare Sheela-na-Gig. The carvings are described as Romanesque motifs from early 12th century. It is thought the work was of an apprentice practising different iconography.
1200 to 1215:
A Chaplain called Elias resided at the Ford of Lee (the earlier name of today's Tissington Ford) on Bletch Brook. It is likely the Chaplain would receive a toll at the crossing and bless the travelers.
Image: Tissington Ford previously called the Ford of Lee in the early 1200's. © S Potter
1205:
Sir Geoffrey de Cauceis grants Godard de Bradbourne the manor of Bradbourne which included the moiety of Lea Hall and the Mill. To Dunstable Priory he gifts All Saints Church in Bradbourne, its four chapeleries, parish lands, but also a tithe in Lea Hall and Aldwark. Geoffrey’s family held various manors near Milton Keynes and confirms his connection and gift to Dunstable Priory.
Lea Hall was a moiety of Tissington, and Tissington was part of the larger Bradbourne Estate.
Image: All Saints Church of Bradbourne. The tall Saxon cross shaft greets you as you enter the church.
1215 to 1300:
Magnificent ancient trees surround the Bradbourne Hall Grounds. In front of the Canons 'mansion house’, underneath the snowdrop covered front lawn are the foundations of the Canons' Great Grange built circa 1215-1300.
(J Yates, Medieval Dunstable)
© S Potter, February 2023
1215 to 1239:
Charter from William son of Robert de Lee and his grant on land called ‘Oldeweleflate’. Old Wheel Flat (Flat=Meadow) for grazing sheep. The word‘old' confirms the watermill was older than circa 1215 and the meadow was adjoining the mill.
During this period, Robert de Essebourne was removed as Vicar of Bradbourne and replaced by 3 canons.
Image: Remenants of the original Dunstable Annals - provided to us from Jean Yates for the purposes of our Mill research
1225:
Emma de Bradbourne is a guest of the canons and receives regular white loaves
Image: This is a Miche loaf that would typically feed a family for a week before the next opportunity to bake. Lee had a croumbaker (Baker/bakehouse) opposite Bradbourne Mill before 1260
1225:
Emma de Bradbourne confirms Garendon Abbey leased the land from the flats of Lee to the public common area of Bradbourne opposite the church. Three years later she ends the lease and gives the land to the Canons of Dunstable, now residing in Bradbourne.
© Photograph by S Potter 2023
The ancient track called Hollow Way started from Lee to Bradbourne Church. It met the linking track down the hill called Church Way. The track is on the edge of Gorse Hill Farm and follows its boundary. It then crossed Bletch Brook and went past the Church (passing the old shrunken village site on the west side); it continued through to Bradbourne Hall’s front garden and out the other side.
1238:
Robert de Bradbourne, Rector new Lord and tenant of Bradbourne and its mill
Image: Bradbourne's Coat of Arms
1247:
Canons of Bradbourne rent the mill for 10 years for 11 marks
Image: A painting of four monks by Claudio Rinaldi (1852-1909 Dorotheum Munich)
1258:
Sir Henry de Bradburne’s Will confirms Bradbourne Mill was in his possession detailed in his descendants will of 1452.
1260:
Charter describes the location of the mill where Bradbourne Mill is located and a directional path to Bradbourne Church. It also confirms the position of a baker/croumbaker located on the track to Bradbourne Mill. The name of the mill was named after the owner Robert de Bradbourne who held Lea Hall and with it came the title of 'Lord of Bradbourne’ - meaning the larger Estate of several villages.
Image: © Sandy Potter, 2022. The 1260 Bakery resided here in Lee overlooking the Mill.
1320:
John de Cheddington of All Saints Church and Prior of Dunstable Priory successfully petitioned to end 'bear baiting' by the Old Saxon Cross.
Image: Saxon Shaft - Top Stone dated 700s - 1009
© Photograph S Potter, 2023.
The Top stone of the Shaft cross is stored in the Church but would have originally been placed on the top of the Saxon cross shaft to make it even taller. The stone depicts an Angel and represents a link to heavenly forms of angels, human prayer and contemplation. The move towards Christianity is seen by the mix of stone images with German mythology representing Wodin with a raven on his shoulder and an archer depicting Egil. This stone monument would have looked down on those who stood by it to gather to hear the gospel being read by a holy teacher prior to the Church construction in 1009.
1330
Sir Roger de Bradbourne grants Dunstable Priory canons the use of Bradbourne Mill for a single red rose each year on St John the Baptist Day.
Image: The 1330 Charter
1424 to 1560
Timber sluice gate carbon dated (found at the end of the the mill race).
Image: © Sandy Potter, 2022: Image of the rear of the Mill. The mill’s roof was raised and the window enlarged under the Fitzherbert’s ownership. The upper mill pond is shown and the sluice gate that opens to allow the water to flow through the pentroughs to turn the overshot wheels.
1452
Sir John de Bradbourne’s will includes seisin of Bradbourne Mill
Image: John de Bradbourne’s monument in St Oswalds Church, Ashbourne
1474
Sir Humphrey de Bradbourne and wife Margaret in possession of Bradbourne Mill
Image: Painting of Bradbourne Mill by Wilfred Ball
1533 to 1555
Star Chamber Court Case between Humphrey de Bradbourne II and his cousin Aden Beresford. Relating to the destruction of Beresford’s mill by Humphrey as he argued it was built on his brook, Bradbourne Brook. A drawing of the brook is illustrated in the documents with Bradbourne Mill sited exactly where it is located now.
Image: Sir Humphrey De Bradbourne, Monument in St Oswalds church
1533 to 1630
Archaeologist (M Hurford) finds at Bradbourne Mill the oldest hand made kiln tile for drying corn in the Peak District in November 2022! 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
1540
Dissolution of the monasteries. The Rector of Dunstable Priory hands over All Saints church, chapels, tithes, lands and buildings at Bradbourne to the King. The new Rector is George Buckston (Buxton) and he takes a lease on the old mansion house, rectory and outbuildings next to the church and sub-tenants to a George Lotte.
The church and glebe lands were granted to Sir Walter de Ferrers (brother to Humphrey de Ferrers who married Anne de Bradbourne). He sold the advowson of the Rectory to the ancestor of George Buckston. (Only the Lord of the Manor can grant this advowson). The church is still in the possession of the Ferrers family in 1674.
Image: © Sandy Potter, 2022: Bradbourne Village. The two buildings on the right of the photograph are the site of the canon’s grange buildings.
1594
William de Bradbourne II sells the Manor of Bradbourne and the Mill to his brother-in-law, Sir Humphrey de Ferrers of Tamworth Castle and sister Ann de Bradbourne. Humphrey’s son, William married Frances Priest and relocated to Calke Abbey but also held Alstonefield Manor. Elizabeth Bradbourne a widow, another sister rents Lea Hall from her sister Ann and her brother in law.
Image: De Ferrers Coat of Arms
1597
Loan of £300 given to Sir Thomas Holcrofte, one of the commissioners of the reformation (who was granted Dunstable Priory’s estate in Bradbourne by Queen Elizabeth 1) and paid by Bess of Hardwick, also known as Elizabeth Countess of Shrewsbury. Bess secured the ‘rectories, buildings and tithe lands until her death.
Interestingly, Thomas and Bess were related through a marriage of Bess’s step daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Rayner who was the widow of her step-son Sir Henry Talbot. Bess had therefore step granddaughters, Gertrude and Mary Talbot. Thomas’s son from his first marriage, Thomas junior married Mary Talbot and all three received a sum of £17, 14 schillings and 8p per year as an income from Bess's rental of the old Priory buildings and land in Bradbourne.
Records confirm the Duke of Devonshire was a patron of Bradbourne vicarage from 1609 to at least 1784 and confirms the continued involvement of Bess of Hardwick's descendants.
Image: Bess of Hardwick, Countess of Shrewsbury by Rowland Lockey 1592
1600s
The Old Mill house south extension was built in the 1600’s and previously thatched but retiled before 1800. The windows to this south elevation were replaced most likely in 1750. The north end building which the south phase butts up to was re-built in 1837 by Sir William Fitzherbert. However, the north end was rebuilt on top of the lower wall of the existing house, which is the oldest section of the house and dates to pre 1600’s. The date of this wall is unknown and could date to early medieval at the time of the Canons of Dunstable Priory's tenancy which ended in 1540.
Image: © Sandy Potter, 2022: The Old Mill House
1600 to 1799
The Drying kiln beneath the kitchen of the Water mill that still exists, is dated to approximately 17th-18th Century (Alan Gifford). It may have replaced an earlier kiln in the same location which compliments the kiln tile dated between 1533-1630.
Image: How the watermill design stayed the same over the centuries but more hoppers and a kiln for drying were adapted to increase production of flour in the late 19th century. Bradbourne Mill has a kiln located under the floor of the existing kitchen and it would have been used to dry the grain above on perforated tiles.
Image from Historic Scotland Twitter account - an artist's impression of miller duties in a corn mill - specifically New Abbey Corn Mill.
1608-09
Bess of Hardwick/Countess of Shrewsbury and Humphrey de Ferrers die in 1608. George Buckston purchases the ‘mansion house and buildings late of Dunstable Priory’ and rebuilds the manor house and renames it Bradbourne Hall in 1609; it is thought the central part of the front elevation, still retains a section of the Canon’s house built in 1330.
Image: Bradbourne Hall
1625 to 1630
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.
Image: The medieval oak hurst frame that held the heavy mill workings in place to ensure there was no movement when it was in operation. The frame was secured to its foundations and confirms the size of the Water Mill at 1625-1630. © S Potter, 2022.
1673
Mill fields leased to Samuel Swan of Hurdlow tenancy granted by Edward Ferrers
Image: The view opposite Bradbourne Mill. Location of the lost village of Lee, a deserted village by 1530. The celtic to early medieval village spread from Lea Hall in a linear line across this hillside on both sides of the track. The track leads to the Ford and the Mill. The village consisted of 24 crofts including a Croumbaker (small bread baker) and a carpenter – both essential to the Water Mill. At the lower part of the hillside, this area was called the mill fields. © S Potter, 2022
1749
Lord George Marquess of Townsend married Lady Charlotte Compton, 16th Baroness Ferrers of Charterley and becomes the new owner of the water mill
Image: Field Marshal George Townshend 1st Marquess Townshend 1724-1807, Earl of Leicester since 1784
1750
Stone date on mill confirms renovation to the mill rather than its build date. The renovation and extension of the drying mill would have been by the new owner Lord George Marquess of Townsend.
1780
John Buxton tenant of the Mill to 1815
Image: Medieval mill stones lay at the back of The Water Mill
1809
Marquess George Townshend sells Mill to Sir Phillip Gell of Hopton Hall
Image: Sir Philip Eyre Gell Senior of Hopton Hall by Joshua Reynolds, his son Philip became a MP
1811:
Sir Philip Gell and other prominent landowners build a new road (B5056) and a number of toll gates along it. One is located at Bradbourne Mill.
1815:
Samuel Gerrard tenant and miller of Bradbourne Mill to 1835
Image: Painting by Wilfred Ball of Bradbourne Mill Farm
1831:
Mill inherited by Samuel Sanders of Basford, mother was heir to Samuel Swan
Image: Medievalists.net image of the calculations controlling bakers which would allow someone to buy at least some quantity of bread for a penny. ‘when Henry of Kniveton is in residence at Gayton his grain is to be milled free from toll. Henry’s tenants are to pay toll at the rate of one thirty-second part of the grain and are to be free from labour-services of the mill...' (29 October 1303).
1835:
Joseph Jerrard tenant miller to 1862.
© S Potter 2022, the Burial mound and Wigber Low overlooking Kniveton
1800 to 1850:
It is likely the East mill wheel nearest to the Water mill, belongs to the design of the mill workings of 1625-1630 and the kiln tile dated 1533-1630, whereas the west mill wheel belongs to the probable upgrade in 1880 to 1850.
1837:
Sir William Fitzherbert purchased Lea Hall and Bradbourne Mill and with this moiety comes the ancient title of Lord of the Manor of Bradbourne (which was split from the larger estate of villages in 1205. Lea Hall was the original seat of the Bradbournes and prior to this Bradbourne was the south western administrative centre of the Peak District controlled by Mercia).
Image: Sir William Fitzherbert, 4th Baronet of Tissington Hall
Photograph, National Portrait Gallery
1840:
Mary Jerrard, daughter of the late Samuel Gerrard, listed in the 1840 tithe map and Newspaper clippings as living at Bradbourne Mill.
Image: Page from Little Lily's Picture Book published in the 1800s
1845:
Lea Hall and the Mill leased for 1000 years by Lawrence Hall
Image: Exposed Mill workings located in the Mill
1865:
Toll gates along B5056 deteriorated and shareholders in debt. Gates thrown open
Image: Historic England image of the Bradbourne Mill site
1876 to 1912
Joseph Gerrard (son of Mary Gerrard) - Miller 1876, Joseph's wife's (Hannah) father, Elijah Heath, became the new Miller at Bradbourne Mill in 1881, and Frank Wright Limited - Miller until 1912
Image: Painting by Alan Ingham of Bradbourne Mill
1887:
The public common land detailed in an 1180 charter is where fetes and celebrations were located in Bradbourne, opposite the Church and behind the village noticeboard. This land has been sold to a private landowner.
Now, Bradbourne gatherings are held in the village hall, further along the road from the ancient public common land.
Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee celebration in Bradbourne ©Picture the Past.
1895:
Richard Lomas was the first farmer and overseer of Bradbourne Mill on behalf of the Lord, Sir Hugo Fitzherbert of Tissington Hall
Photo of the Webster Family by Bradbourne Mill's outbuilding, now known as Waterside Barn in 1924. © photograph courtesy of Philip Wilton and Anne Dutton, grandchildren of Leonard and Laura Webster
1924:
The Mill grounds to a halt during the first world war. Corn mill ceases production. First photograph image of the Mill site shows that a century later, Bradbourne Mill farm has hardly changed.
Image: Bradbourne Mill Postcard created by Bradbourne Church Fund (1907)
1924:
Photograph of the Mill Race when it was last in operation. The Mill Race was left in a ruinous state over the last century, but the current owners have cleared and exposed the mill race walls and grassed the area so now it is possible to walk the entire length.
© Philip Wilton and Anne Dutton, grandchildren of Leonard and Laura Webster
1924 to 1932:
Leonard and Laura Webster, with their 5 year old daughter Nancy, were the second farmers at Bradbourne Mill. Due to damp conditions, Sir Hugo Fitzherbert relocated them to another farm on the Tissington Estate.
© Philip Wilton and Anne Dutton, grandchildren of Leonard and Laura Webster
1939 to 1945:
Second World War, Bradbourne Evacuees standing on Mill Lane in the village of Bradbourne and behind is the old school.
1940:
Mr John Myers, tenant farmer from 1940 to 2006.
1966:
Renovation works are depicted by this date under the central rear window of the Water Mill. This elevation was repaired and a window enlarged. The water mill was repaired to use as another farm outbuilding.
Image: Alan Gifford Photograph
2006:
Bradbourne Mill Farm sold by Sir Richard Fitzherbert of Tissington Hall.
Image: Entrance hall of Tissington Hall. With much gratitude to Sir Richard Fitzherbert for allowing the time to search through the Estate’s maps, records and family albums.
2008 to 2019:
Purchase of Mill site: Waterside Barn, Tissington Ford Barn, The Old Mill House and The Water Mill by Mr D and Mrs S Potter