Cogglesford Mill

Summary

Cogglesford Mill[1] (sometimes referred to as Coggesford[2]) is a Grade II listed working watermill in Sleaford, Lincolnshire. It is possibly the last working Sheriff's Mill[clarification needed] in England.[3]

Cogglesford Mill
Cogglesford Mill, 2005
TypeWatermill
LocationSleaford
Coordinates53°00′06″N 0°24′01″W / 53.001687°N 0.400187°W / 53.001687; -0.400187 (Cogglesford Mill)
OS grid referenceTF 07459 46128
AreaLincolnshire
BuiltMid 18th century
OwnerNorth Kesteven District Council
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameCoggesford Mill, mill race and bridge
Designated20 July 1973
Reference no.1062115
Cogglesford Mill is located in Lincolnshire
Cogglesford Mill
Location of Cogglesford Mill in Lincolnshire
Weir in place of the upper doors of the lock. This weir has a levelling mechanism attached, rather like a tilting weir. We see the dark frames of the weir, wet on a winter's day, with the water cascading over toward us in a smooth cataract, no turbulence or disturbance. The surface of the mill pond beyond is placid. The air is misty and the surrounding trees are white with hoar-frost, which also rimes the edges of the frame of the weir, melted only where the water has splashed.
Weir at Cogglesford Mill

Location edit

The mill sits to the north of Sleaford on banks of River Slea. The ford from which the mill takes its name is where the Roman road, now called Mareham Lane, crossed the Slea. The original crossing, no longer extant, is a few hundred yards downstream of the mill, close to the current footbridge.

History edit

There is archaeological evidence of a Saxon mill on the site and records in the Domesday book of later mills; the present redbrick structure dates to the mid to late 18th century, with alterations from the 19th century.[1] There were many other mills along the river at various times. During the construction of the Sleaford Navigation, in the 1790s, locks were provided at each of the mills to maintain the necessary head of water. After the navigation closed and as the locks fell into disrepair they were replaced by weirs. The weir at Cogglesford is particularly elaborate, having to maintain the head of this still working mill.

Cogglesford mill (including the mill race and bridge) was assigned a listed status on 20 July 1973.[1] The mill is open to the public 7 days a week during the summer and stoneground flour is milled there and sold in the shop.[4]

Gallery edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Historic England. "Cogglesford Mill and Mill Race and Bridge (1062115)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  2. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1062115)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  3. ^ "Cogglesford Mill". www.cogglesford-mill.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 29 September 2007.
  4. ^ "Cogglesford Watermill". Heart of Lincs. Retrieved 31 December 2021.

Further reading edit

  • N. Pevsner, J. Harris, N. Atram, Buildings of England, vol. 27 (Lincolnshire), 1989 (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press)
  • S. A. Savage, Cogglesford Mill, Eastgate, Sleaford, 2007 (Lincoln: Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd.)

External links edit

  • Cogglesford Mill - official site
  • Virtual tour of the mill
  • Photographs of the Sleaford Navigation
  • Sleaford Navigation Trust
  • Photographs of repairs to the Wheel, by the craftsman involved