ComputerHunter.org

 

Last Chance to See: Grove Mill, Mitcham


Grove Mill, Mitcham; where in 1934 many of the iron wheels from Surrey Iron Railway waggons were still visible in the tail-race, is being given the Ravensbury treatment. All but the central building is being cleared for housing.

In fact, there was already not much to see. The small row of cottages called the Fisheriesthe that were originally built to house the mill workers for the Grove Mill that stood nearby but has now disappeared. In the early 20th century they were used by the Wandle Fisheries Association, an association set up by the local Gentry to stock the river with trout.

However it is a chance to revisit this ancient industrial site. As part of the planning process an Archaeological report was commissioned from Compass Archaeology, who produced an excellent report in 2002, drawing extensively on the resources of the Museum and Merton Historical Society (mostly in the person of Eric Montague, and in the various works produced by him and Peter Harris over the years).

As the report shows, there has been a Mitcham mill since the Domesday Book, and, (as Mitcham itself lay north of the Wandle it is reasonable to assume that this was the site. , as the London Road crossed the Wandle by a ford rather than a bridge, and it is unlikely that anything requiring water power or use would be set where the water would be regularly fouled by traffic.

Real evidence emerges during the 17th century, and the Grover mill site went through copper, flour and soap manufacturing stages before ending its life as an orthopaedic shoe factory.

Crown Mill standing behind it, but destroyed by fire in the 1960's, goes through felt manufacturing, engineering, and then flour. A third mill stood on the south side of the Wandle, facing these two.

More interesting event than that, though, is the evidence shown by the 100 years of plans annexed to the report, from 1879 through to 1968, demonstrating the ways in which the River Wandle was tortured and twisted to suit the requirements of the industrial ages, with the present course out of Watermeads south of Grove Mill an invention of the last 50 years only.

The site has a special interest to the Museum, as it was here that two Surrey Iron Railway wagon wheels were dredged up from papermill cut, one of which is to be seen in the Museum, and also in the local legend that the Crown Mill site was used as factory and workshops for the benefit of the Surrey iron Railway during its brief existence.

If possible, we will be making more of the report available through the website, but this will require copyright clearance.

See figure 1; The site in relation to the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey 24 inch mile ma of 1879 (surveyed 1865-67), See figure 2; The site in relation to the 2nd Edition Ordnance Survey 24 inch map of 1895 revised 1894), See figure 3; The site in relation to the 2nd Edition Ordnance Survey 24 inch: mile map of 1935 (revised 1932).

I am the website administrator of the Wandle Industrial Museum (http://www.wandle.org). Established in 1983 by local people determined to ensure that the history of the valley was no longer neglected but enhanced awareness its heritage for the use and benefits of the community.







Google News - Top Stories

USA Today

All-Williams Final Is All Venus
New York Times - 3 hours ago
By CHRISTOPHER CLAREY WIMBLEDON, England - Sisters for life and doubles partners later in the afternoon, Venus and Serena Williams put all that aside for nearly two hours Saturday at Wimbledon: slugging serves and ground strokes in each other’s ...
Blast of fresh emotional air in the Williams Wimbledon finale - Tennis ESPN
Venus, Serena Williams pair up to win 3rd Wimbledon doubles title The Canadian Press
Washington Post - The Associated Press - CBSSports.com - Orlando Sentinel
all 5,656 news articles


CTV.ca

'Critical day' dawns for Goleta fire, enlarged by overnight wind gusts
Los Angeles Times - 5 hours ago
An air tanker drops fire retardant close to homes along a West Camino Cielo Road community in Goleta on Friday afternoon. More photos >>> The blaze, while 24% contained, grew to 8357 acres.
Video: Wind Keeps California Wildfires Raging AssociatedPress
2 fires still raging along Calif.'s Central Coast The Associated Press
CBS 5 - AFP - Imperial Valley News - WTHI
all 1,163 news articles


Times Online

Colombia foils bomb plot after rescue - officials
Reuters - 4 hours ago
BOGOTA, July 5 (Reuters) - Colombia found explosives set to be used in bombs across the capital in reprisal for this week's rescue of leftist rebels' highest-profile hostages, including Ingrid Betancourt, military officials said on Saturday.
Freed Betancourt given clean bill of health AFP
Colombia's continuing hostage pain BBC News
United Press International - Washington Post - Los Angeles Times - euronews
all 4,738 news articles


Times Online

Billy Graham on the death of Jesse Helms
Dallas Morning News - 4 hours ago
"Jesse Helms, my friend and long-time senator from my home state of North Carolina, was a man of consistent conviction to conservative ideals and courage to faithfully serve God and country based on principle, not popularity or politics.
Video: A Look Back At Jesse Helms CBS
How Jesse Helms Made a Difference Wall Street Journal
Boston Globe - Washington Times - Chicago Tribune
all 2,350 news articles


Times Online

Germany's Merkel hopes for African leaders' support on Zimbabwe ...
International Herald Tribune - 4 hours ago
AP BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Saturday that she hopes African leaders will support tougher sanctions against Zimbabwe when they participate at the upcoming Group of Eight summit.
10 of this week's best stories from around Times Online
Back From AU Summit, Mugabe Sets Terms For Power-Sharing Talks Voice of America
AFP - The Associated Press - Xinhua - PRESS TV
all 6,136 news articles

Google
 

Copyright © 2006 Computer Hunter - A Division of Arthur´s Job Base