Information for record number MWA567:
Washford Mill, Studley

Summary The site of Washford Mill, a watermill. There is documentary evidence for Mills in Studley from the Medieval period onwards. The Mill buildings and the mill house have now been converted to a hotel, with the waterwheel restored. It is located 100m west of Icknield Street Drive.
What Is It?  
Type: Watermill, Breastshot Wheel, Needle Mill, Mill House, Building
Period: Imperial - Post-medieval (1751 AD - 1750 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Studley
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 07 65
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

1 A mill is recorded in 1086 and there were two mills in the 12th century and 14th century. The site of at least one of these mills was that of the Hurst mill referred to in 1708, on the Arrow above Washford Bridge, where the millrace is still to be seen. Further documentary information exists.
2 Difficulty experienced correlating field and documentary evidence for the mill sites at Studley. Hurst mill need not correlate with the existing Washford mill. Associated with a major fishpond complex which has been converted to provide water power.
3 Early documentary information and information on ownership for 18th, 19th and 20th century. The mill closed in the early 1930's. After ceasing operation, all the machinery was removed and the building converted to provide extra accommodation for the adjoining mill house. In 1973 it was planned to convert the building into a hotel. This has been effected, and the waterwheel restored to working order. The mill buildings, which date mainly from the C18, are of brick. The adjoining mill house is a fine half-timbered structure built in the mid 17th century. A new wing has been added in a recent conversion. Of the machinery, only the water-wheel and a driving pulley remain. The wheel is low breast-shot, measuring approx 4.9m diameter by 1.57m wide.
4 Believed to have been built c1664, the mill was converted to needle scouring c1730 and worked in this way for around 200 years.
5 Photos.
6 Plans.
7 Location plan of the mill.
 
Sources
Source No: 4
Source Type: Archaeological Report
Title: Survey of Arrow Valley Needle Industry
Author/originator: Collins P
Date: 1994
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Studley Parish Survey
Author/originator: Hooke D
Date: 1980
Page Number: 54-5
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Warwickshire Watermills
Author/originator: Booth D T N
Date: 1978
Page Number: 83-4
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 3, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1945
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 3
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Plan
Title: Mill Sites and Fishponds
Author/originator: Della Hooke
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
technique Documentary Evidence Documentary evidence is another name for written records. The first written records in Britain date back to the Roman period. Documentary evidence can take many different forms, including maps, charters, letters and written accounts. When archaeologists are researching a site, they often start by looking at documentary evidence to see if there are clues that will help them understand what they might find. Documentary evidence can help archaeologists understand sites that are discovered during an excavation, field survey or aerial survey. back
period Medieval 1066 AD to 1539 AD (the 11th century AD to the 16th century AD)

The medieval period comes after the Saxon period and before the post medieval period.

The Medieval period begins in 1066 AD.
This was the year that the Normans, led by William the Conqueror (1066 – 1087), invaded England and defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in East Sussex.
The Medieval period includes the first half of the Tudor period (1485 – 1603 AD), when the Tudor family reigned in England and eventually in Scotland too.

The end of the Medieval period is marked by Henry VIII’s (1509 – 1547) order for the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the years running up to 1539 AD. The whole of this period is sometimes called the Middle Ages.
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period Imperial 1751 AD to 1914 AD (end of the 18th century AD to the beginning of the 20th century AD)

This period comes after the Post Medieval period and before the modern period and starts with beginning of the Industrial Revolution in 1750. It includes the second part of the Hannoverian period (1714 – 1836) and the Victorian period (1837 – 1901). The Imperial period ends with the start of the First World War in 1914.
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monument HOTEL * A large building used for the accommodation of paying travellers and guests. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument FISHPOND * A pond used for the rearing, breeding, sorting and storing of fish. back
monument BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument MILL * A factory used for processing raw materials. Use more specific mill type where known. See also TEXTILE MILL, for more narrow terms. back
monument MACHINERY * Apparatus used for applying a mechanical force, or to perform a particular function. Use more specific type where known. back
monument MILL HOUSE * The residence of a miller, often attached to a mill. back
monument DRIVE * A road/carriage way giving access from the main road to the house, stables. back
monument FIELD * An area of land, often enclosed, used for cultivation or the grazing of livestock. back
monument BRIDGE * A structure of wood, stone, iron, brick or concrete, etc, with one or more intervals under it to span a river or other space. Use specific type where known. back
monument NEEDLE MILL * A mill or works where needles were manufactured. back
monument STRUCTURE * A construction of unknown function, either extant or implied by archaeological evidence. If known, use more specific type. back
monument WATERMILL * A mill whose machinery is driven by water. back
monument BREASTSHOT WHEEL * A waterwheel in which the incoming water is directed onto the periphery below the top of the wheel. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record