Norton Mill
There was a mill at Norton at least as far back as Norman times, it was mentioned briefly in the Domesday Book and is assumed to have been the mill property that we know today near Inchmore Bridge on the A38 Gloucester to Tewkesbury road. The following is an extract from the Domesday Book for Norton or ‘Nortune’ as it was referred to:
‘Stigand held Nortune. There were five hides and a half. In demean were two plow tillage’s and fifteen villeins with fifteen plow-tillages and four servi and a mill of 22nd. It was then and is now worth £4. Thomas, Archbishop, now holds these manors. Walchelin, the nephew of the Bishop of Winton holds Nortune of him’.
Before 1147 the mill belonged to a prebend in St. Oswald’s minster, Gloucester, and after c 1153 it formed part of the endowment of the priory which replaced the minster. Its ownership would descend with the manor and demesne of Prior’s Norton until 1931.
The mill at Norton gets another mention in the 12th Century when, in 1153, it is recorded that one of the six prebends of St Oswalds consisted of a mill and a hide and a virgate of land in Norton; presumably the same mill referred to in Domesday. A prebend was the land or tithe that was the source of the stipend assigned by St Oswalds to one of its Priory. A virgate is a now obsolete measurement of land usually believed to have been the equivalent of approximately 30 acres. A further description of this prebend, held by Master Nicholas of St Oswalds, describes two fisheries and a water mill at Norton. Throughout the Middle Ages, St Oswalds continued to hold land at Norton being served by a stipendiary Chaplain.
The Court rolls for the barony of Churchdown, which included Norton, from 1427/8 report that several houses were ruinous but it wasn’t just houses that were in a poor condition. Described in 1436 as the watermill of the prior of St. Oswald, its miller, William Little, was presented at the Bishop’s Norton court where a certain dam pertaining to the water mill of the Prior of St Oswald being in serious ruins through default of the Prior and William Littull his tenant, so that the nearby meadow of the tenants is many times inundated and damaged by the influx of the water. Flooding supposedly caused by defects and blockages in the millstream was a recurring problem in the medieval period and later; in 1595 the lords of both Norton manors ordered their tenants to scour the watercourse and repair the ditches below the mill, and also to prevent the ‘pounding up’ of water by the mill upstream as far as the bridge.
On 25 March 1544 Robert Morton, and his wife Joan, were the millers "for the farm of the watermill there with all houses now built and hereafter to be built, with multure and toll, and a meadow called Milhay, and 2 parcels or closes in the meadow called Welsage, with all arable land to the said mill belonging, with all the tithes and altarages thereto from old time belonging, as demised to Robert Morton and Joan his wife by Indenture (23 April 9 Hen VIII for 70 years, at 36s 3d, tak of pigs in common years 12d, fines, herriots etc in common years 2s 4d".
Amongst the manorial records for the Chamberlayne family of Maugersbury we find court rolls for Churchdown, Witcombe, Shurdington, Hucclecote and Bishop's Norton from 1590-1600. The rolls all document occurrences at a ‘view of frankpledge’ - a court held periodically for the production of the members of a tithing, later of a hundred or manor. Amongst other things they tell us a little about the mill;
On 20 April 1593, neighbouring tenants were ordered to scour the ditch from Cold Elm Green to Steane Bridge; and the stream from Gabriel Read’s mill to the lower part of Streathay.
On 6 April 1594 all inhabitants of Norton were to scour a ditch called Milbrooke and upper part of the overmoore to the lower part of Strethay.
On 25 April 1595 once more it was ordered that neighbouring tenants scour the Mill Brook from Stone Bridge to the lower part of Strathaye. It was also ordered, with the agreement of Jn Chamberlain arm’ lord of manor and his tenants, and Gabriel Reade gen. and his tenants that Norton mill shall not ‘pound up’ the course of the water leading to the mill as far as the bottom of the bridge.
It would appear at first that Gabriel Read was the miller at this time and his name occurs on several occasions in the court rolls; however, on another entry he was referred to as lord of the manor and the miller was mentioned separately so it seems more likely that Gabriel owned the mill and had a tenant in occupation of the premises. Indeed, on 25 April 1595 we find that a licence was given to Gabriel Read lord of manor and his miller to scour and repair the ditches on the meadow side of the brook of the free tenants of Jn Chamberlain, so as to lead away the water overflowing the mead to its harm.
The Mill brook seems to have been a particular concern and on 31 March 1597 we find that everyone should stop the spouts from mill to the lower part of Foremead and that Millbrook to be scoured from Norton mill to Newmead. The same issue arises again the following year on 23 March 1598 when it is recorded that Mill Brook has not been scoured, as ordered and just a month after this on 20 April 1598, Ric Phelpes ‘did not stoppe the spowtes’ from the mill to the lower part of Foremead, as ordered at last court. Neighbouring tenants to stop the spouts from the mill to lower part of Strathay.
The mill pond has been the cause of a number of village deaths over the years;
There was a burial at St Mary’s, Norton, in 1806 for “Thomas Tiler, a stranger found drowned in the Mill Pond at Norton”. Unfortunately Thomas wasn’t the only person to have met his death here.
In March 1705 we find “William and Margaret the son & daughter of Samll Cox & Mary his wife (being drown’d in the Mill-pound) were buried”. In 1715 there is a baptism for a son, Walter, to Samuel and Mary Cox which records that they actually lived at the Mill which may go some way to explaining the drowning of their two children. When another son was baptised in 1706 he too was given the name William. The couple’s misfortunes weren’t to end with the drowning as an entry from the registers from 1715 records; Walter the son of Samll Cox of the Mill and Mary his wife was baptised and buried the Sunday following”.
Samuel and Mary Cox were still living at the Mill in 1726. In 1762 there is a baptism for Thomas, son of William and Elizabeth Coxe who were also living at the Mill which would suggest that the family lived there for several generations. The Mill Pond was to haunt this family, however, as a burial entry from 1767 records; “Elizabeth Cox a child drowned”.
In 1807 the Mill was Plot No 252, a mill and garden, 1 rod 7 perches in size, and was owned by the Duke Of Norfolk, who held much land in this area at that time.
On Wednesday, 25th June 1828, The Kings Head Inn, was the place to be if you wished to buy yourself a water, corn and grist mill. The ‘manor of Norton Priors’ was up for auction and the mill was being offered as Lot No 2. In the auction leaflet it was described as follows;
“Very desirable water, corn and grist mill called Norton Mill, with a good supply of Water and Buildings, consisting of a substantial brick built dwelling house, containing Kitchen, Pantry and Cellar, with Two good lodging Rooms, with a Garden, Stable, and Cow-house. The whole very recently Substantially Rebuilt and Repaired. The Land attached to this Lot consists of the following Rich, Meadow, and Pasture Land.
No. on Tithe Free | Titheable
Plan A R. P. | A. R. P.
49 Barn Yard and Garden .. .. .. | .. 2 8
50 Mill and Garden .. 1 7 |
52 Little Meadow 2 0 1 |
53 Wellfetch 1 2 13 |
54 Ditto .. .. .. | 1 1 31
-------------------|-----------------------
Tithe Free 3 3 21 | 1 3 39
Titheable 1 3 39 |
-------------------|
Total 5 3 20 |
-------------------|
This Lot is in the occupation of Mr Robert Marston, except No 49, which is occupied by Mr Charter, and possession of that may be had at Lady-Day, 1829, but possession of all the rest may be had on the 10th October, 1828. Mr Marston will show this Lot. The above is desirably situated, being adjoining the Turnpike Road leading from Gloucester to Tewkesbury; and distant from Gloucester Four Miles; from Tewkesbury Six; and from Cheltenham Six and a Half. The land tax chargeable upon this Lot will be £1 17s per Annum”.
It is interesting to note that the Mill House itself had been ‘recently Substantially Rebuilt’ and it may well be that much of what we see here today, dates from 1828.
We are lucky to still have a ‘terrier and valuation of the messuages, lands, and other hereditaments liable to poor rate in the parish of Norton’ from 1838 that tells us the property was then owned by Nathan Dyer Esq and let to Henry Green. In 1841 Henry Green was a 40 year old miller living at Norton living with his 12 year old son John. A Thomas Marston was also recorded as a miller at Norton but gives his address as Norton Green; perhaps he was in the employ of Henry Green. By 1851 Henry Green was now giving his address as The Mill and being near Marlpit Lane confirms our suspicions as to its location. He gave his occupation as farmer of 108 acres employing four labourers but doesn’t mention ‘miller’ any more. Son John is still at home and they have been joined by a 19 year old daughter Elizabeth. Henry gave his place of birth as Barnwood whilst his children gave Norton. 1851 also records a Walter Matthews as a miller living at Worlds End. Throughout the 1860s the Electoral List for Norton records John Holengdale Green who qualified as occupier of house, mill and land at Norton Mill. This was probably Henry’s son.
Later we find “John Hollingdale Green, Norton, Gloucestershire, miller” amongst bankrupts reported in Berrow’s Worcester Journal newspaper of 23 June 1866. Henry Green is still at the Mill himself in 1871 but his children are no longer in residence. Lodging with him we find Thomas Hill, a 34 year old miller from Eldersfield, and his wife Priscilla. Henry Green died in 1874 and has a memorial at St Mary’s, Norton; “Sacred to the memory of Henry Green of this Parish who died April 3rd 1874 aged 76 years”.
In 1875 it appears that Edward Roberts was briefly at Norton Mill. On 19 May 1875, William Roberts, labourer of Norton. 16 years old, 5ft tall, brown hair, grey eyes, long oval visage, fresh complexion, with a scar on the bridge of his nose, cut left forefinger, three warts on the back of his right hand and several on the back of his left hand near the thumb. A native of Norton, son of Edward of Norton Mill, he was single and described as a ‘tramp’ having just come to the City and not previously known. William was charged with feloniously stealing one brooch of the value of one shilling, the property of James Maysey at Gloucester on 18 May and was sentenced to 21 days’ hard labour. William was baptised on 24 January 1858 at St Mary’s, Norton, son of Edward and Elizabeth Roberts and grew up living on the Turnpike Road, near the Vicarage.
By 1876 the resident at Norton Mill had become Edwin Ball who had most likely taken the Mill upon Henry Green’s death. Edwin was born at Linkinhorne, Cornwall in 1838, son of John and Betsy Ball, a miller of Rilla Mill village. In 1861 he was living at Lamellion, Cornwall, employed as a miller in service. Edwin married Elizabeth, from Wiltshire, and had many children; their first born, in 1873 at Pembrey, Carmarthen and including two baptised at Norton in 1876. By 1884 they were at Glastonbury, Somerset, and by 1891 at Henbury, Glos, where they settled at Coombe Mill, Westbury on Trym, with Edwin recorded as a corn and flour miller. A number of Edwin's sons followed him into the business and they set up a formal partnership that was dissolved when one son emigrated to Canada; "Notice is hereby given that the partnership heretofore subsisting between us, the undersigned, Edwin Ball, Herbert Edwin Ball, Frederick Jacob Ball, John Thomas Ball, and Ewart Martin Ball, carrying on business as millers and fodder merchants at Coombe Mills, Westbury on Trym, and Brewham, Somerset, under the style or firm of 'E Ball and sons', has been dissolved as from the twenty ninth day of September, one thousand nine hundred and fourteen, so far as concerns the said Ewart Martin Ball, who is no longer a partner in the said firm". Edwin Ball died in 1922.
The following fatality occurred during Edwin Ball's time at the mill and was reported in the Gloucester Journal newspaper of 17 August 1878; “During Saturday’s storm a man named John Hoskins, in the employ of Mr Ball, miller, of Norton, was killed by the lightning, as a vehicle of which he was in charge was passing between Coombe Hill and Cheltenham. When struck he fell back into the cart, death appearing to be instantaneous. Mr Joseph Jardine, a traveller in the employ of Mr McFee, draper, Cheltenham, was in the vehicle, deceased having favoured him with ‘a lift’, and he was not in the least hurt. The off shaft of the cart was smashed. The horse bore traces of having been singed. The hat which deceased had worn was picked up in the road, about 50 yards in advance of where the deceased had been struck. There was a hole in the left side of the hat, and it was somewhat burnt. Deceased appeared to have been struck in the temple. There were signs of scorching on his left cheek, and his hair was singed”.
Norton Mill came up for sale again and was reported in the Gloucester Journal of 28 May 1881; “Norton, on the main road between Tewkesbury and Gloucester. To be let and entered upon immediately, that capital water corn mill known as ‘Norton Mill’, with steam power attached, driving two pairs of stones, convenient dwelling house, small farm homestead, garden, 6 acres of capital pasture orcharding”.
The Electoral List for Norton in 1883 records an Edward Cook who qualified to vote by right of a mill and land on the Turnpike Road which is presumed to have been the same property. He was not to stay for long and by 1889 Duncan Huntley Preston, who was describing himself as a miller(water), baker and farmer, had taken over the tenancy and was to remain at the Mill for a number of years.
On 13 July 1901, Norton Mill and Norton Court Farm were withdrawn from an auction by Messrs Bruton, Knowles and Co at £5100. Both Lots were then sold by private contract to William Archer of Taynton Court.
As with so many properties in the village, the residents from this time were more often than not only tenants and not the owners of the property. Hence, on Saturday, 11th July 1901, Messrs Bruton, Knowles & Co were instructed by the executors of William Dyer Esq to sell Norton Mill as Lot 2 of three at Norton, at an auction at The Bell Hotel, Gloucester. The auction leaflet described the property as follows :-
“A valuable freehold property known as Norton Mill on the main road from Gloucester to Tewkesbury … comprising a grist mill, dwelling house, and 14a 2r 1p of pasture and meadow land including an enclosure of pasture orcharding of which the following are particulars :-
No on Plan Description Quantity (A-R-P)
115 Meadow 4 1 11
125 Norton Mill, House and Garden 0 1 16
127 Buildings and Yard 0 0 37
128 Pasture 3 0 32
129 Ditto 1 0 33
133 Pasture Orcharding 2 0 18
134 Meadow 3 0 14
14 2 1
The dwelling house is brick built and slated and contains sitting room, kitchen, back kitchen, dairy and four bedrooms; adjoining is a lean-to washhouse and garden, in which is WC. Adjoining the dwelling house is the brick built and tiled grist mill known as Norton Mill, containing two floors, and fitted with two pairs of stones, driven by a water-wheel connected with the River Chelt; and a bakehouse with two ovens. In the orchard, No 133 on the Plan, is a shed, and on the opposite side of the road is a yard, in which are stable, piggery, cow shed, cart house, and fowl house. This Lot is in the occupation of Mr D H Preston, at the yearly rent of £52. … It is subject to a Land Tax of £2 12s 0d”.
In 1910 Norton Mill was still occupied by Duncan Preston and owned by William Archer.
Huntley Preston, as Duncan H was commonly known, remained at the Mill until his death and the following report appeared in the Gloucester Journal newspaper of 25 November 1911 suggesting that he had been at the Mill since the mid-1880s; “Mr Duncan H Preston of Norton Mill near Gloucester died at his residence at mid-day on Thursday [23rd] aged 52 years. The deceased had carried on business as a baker at Norton for upwards of twenty five years and was well known in Gloucester and district. He had been laid by since May last suffering with an infection of the heart. He was a member of the Gloucester Conservative Benefit Society. He leaves a widow but no family. The funeral will take place on Monday (leaving the house at 3 o’clock) at Norton Church”.
In 1915 George Jordan was lodging at the mill in a first floor, furnished, bedroom. Mrs Preston was recorded as his landlord.
In 1921 the widowed Mary Ellen Preston was still here, in a seven room property, recorded as a retired baker. Also in residence was Louisa Moule, her sister, and George Jordan, her nephew, who was employed here as a baker on his own account.
Huntley’s widow, (Ellen) Mary, continued to be listed in the trade directories as a baker of Norton until 1923 but it is likely, however, that she remained here until her death in 1931.
The following is a photo of the construction of the new road at Norton from 1925 that straightened the section of the Tewkesbury Road from roughly between the lane that runs to the church, passing Church Farm, and Norton Mill (which can just about be seen in the distance).
With the death of Mary Ellen Preston in 1931, Norton Mill was put up for auction again;
“LOT 2, NORTON MILL an excellent small holding situate at Norton and adjoining the main road from Gloucester to Tewkesbury. The property comprises a small dwelling house, mill, set of buildings, garden and enclosures of pasture land, pasture orcharding and meadow land, containing an area of 14a 0r 20p of which the following is a schedule from the Second Edition, Ordnance Survey :-
Parish of Norton
No on Map Description Area
Pt 115 Meadow 4- 0-31
Pt 128 Pasture 2- 3-35
Pt 124 Yard and Buildings 0- 0-26
Pt 123a Yard and Buildings 0- 0- 7
129 Pasture 1- 0-33
133 Pasture Orchard 2- 0-16
134 Meadow 3- 0-14
125 Norton Mill 0- 1-18
The dwelling house which faces the main road is built of brick with slate roof and contains on the ground floor, sitting room with board floor, kitchen with oven and sham grate, stone flagged floor and three cupboards, back kitchen and larder with shelves. On the first floor two front bed rooms, one with cupboard, and two small back bed rooms. Adjoining the house and with entrance from the sitting room and one of the bed rooms is a mill (not now used) containing on the ground floor a bakery, fitted with two bread ovens and first and second floors above. On the east side of the dwelling house is a lean-to store house with two furnaces and entrance to mill. There is a good garden in which is an EC. Water is obtained from a pump and well at the back of the dwelling house. In No 124, immediately opposite the dwelling house, is a yard with a newly built brick and tiled stable with loft over, two pig cots, a timber built calves house with tiled roof, two loose boxes and a lean-to trap house. Nos 134 and 115 are rich meadow land and Nos 128 and 129 first class upland pasture. The property is in the occupation of the Executors of the late Mrs Preston on a Michaelmas tenancy of a rent of £60 per annum. It has been in the occupation of the Preston family for forty five years. It is subject to tithe the present value of which is £1 8s 6d having been apportioned by the Auctioneers for the purpose of this sale. There is a land tax of £2 17s. The property is sold subject to the right of the occupier of the Lodge Cottage attached to Norton Court Farm to take water for domestic purposes from the pump at the back of the dwelling house. It is also sold subject to a right of way for all purposes from the public road over No 134 to the meadow No 114 which right of way is reserved for the benefit of the owner or occupier of Norton Court Farm. The growing timber is included in the sale”.
The Archer family were in residence by 1933 and in 1943 a Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries survey reported; “The Mill, 31a. J J Archer (owner), class B, lack of capital and initiative, small dairy holding”. William Archer lived at Norton Court Farm but after his death his widow, her sister Miss Emily Alice Organ, and sons Jack and Jim Archer lived at Norton Mill. In 1947 the severe floods got into The Mill when the Archers and Emily Organ were still resident there.
James and John Archer were still at the Mill in 1966 but Bruton, Knowles & Co were directed by James Archer to sell Norton Mill Farm by auction at Agricultural House, Tewkesbury Road, Gloucester, on 18 May 1967. It was described as being a farmhouse suitable for modernising with 2 bedrooms, 2 store rooms, and mains electricity. The farm had a rateable value of £30, tithe redemption annuity of £4 10s 5d and vacant possession would be given upon completion at 8 June 1967. The full description in the sale booklet read;
“The house is built of brick with a slated roof and faces south. The accommodation comprises, on the ground floor; Entrance Porch, Small Entrance Hall, Living Room, 12ft x 12ft, with fireplace, cupboard, store cupboard under the stairs and door leading into the former mill. Sitting Room, 12ft x 11ft 3ins, with fireplace. Kitchen, 13ft 2ins x 8ft 6ins, with farmhouse kitchen range. Dairy, 13ft 6ins x 8ft 6ins, fitted with shelves and stone sink. On the first floor; two Bedrooms, 12ft x 12ft and 12ft x 11ft 3ins, both with fireplaces, one with cupboard and door to the former mill. Two Store Rooms, 12ft 3ins x 8ft 6ins with cupboard and 11ft x 8ft 6ins. Outside Fuel Store and a garden to the side and rear of the house. The Farm Buildings; attached to the farmhouse is the brick tiles two storeyed former Mill containing a Store with tap from the mains supply, two rooms above and one on the second floor. Across the road in OS No 124, a timber and tiled shed with three Loose Boxes, a timber and corrugated iron Fuel Store, a timber and corrugated iron Pig Sty and run. A brick tiles shed with ties for four cows and timber and corrugated iron lean-to. A steel and corrugated iron two bay Hay Barn, sheeted back and one side. A timber and felt roofed Poultry House”.
By 1985 Michael and Julie Dawn Rand were here.
In 1986 the property was put up for sale with the following, badly reproduced, photo, by Lawson & Lawson, Gloucester; "Norton. Farmhouse and connected disused mill with bags of potential standing in the delightful rural surrounds with spectacular views across the river Chelt towards the Malverns. House provides 4-bedroomed family accommodation and attractive well stocked gardens with adjoining mill house to side which could either be incorporated into the main dwelling or, subject to planning permission, converted into a separate unit".
"Unusual and rare opportunity to purchase a detached rural property with adjoining mill house, standing in good sized, well stocked, gardens, 4 bedroomed accommodation, UPVC Double glazed windows to the rear elevation with magnificent rural views towards the Malverns".
Was marketed by Parkers Estate agents, Gloucester, in May 1992, at £175,000; "200 year old cottage. 600 year old mill house. Far too many features to be mentioned here".
Was marketed again by Parkers Estate agents, Gloucester, in September 1992 at the reduced £130,000. In October 1992 it appears again, still at £130,000; "Mill farmhouse on the Tewkesbury Road, at Norton, boasts three bedrooms, one en-suite, plus another bathroom. The mill house, which is mentioned in Domesday, is set out on three levels and has the original store cogs, shaft, bread ovens ready for restoration. The property is set in a quarter of an acre".
Was marketed again by Cox & Co in July 1993 in the region of £145,000; "This property at Norton, is believed to originate from the 19th century, although a mill has been on site since 1066. It is built of brick elevations beneath a partly slated and partly tiled roof and has been improved considerably in recent years. This includes a new roof, re-wiring, damp proofing, extensive modernisation and redecoration also the installation of sealed unit uPVC double glazing to most windows. The property boats considerable character and many interesting features. These include attractive fireplaces, some exposed wall and ceiling timbers. It should be stressed that the property is not listed, and so additional accommodation could be created in the mill area, subject to usual planning consents. In more detail the accommodation comprises; canopy porch, entrance hall, living room, study, dining room, kitchen, breakfast room, landing, master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, family bathroom and two further bedrooms. The ex-water mill comprises, on the ground floor, with original bread ovens. The first floor is divided into two rooms, with views to river and open countryside. Second floor, has one room with breathtaking views. The property is approached by a driveway which provides parking space and leads to the front door. The house is surrounded by lawns and has a natural mineral water well".
Marketed by Wynns in September 1993 at £150,000; "There may be an old mill by the stream but its doubtful if there will be any sign of Nellie Dean at the Mill Farmhouse, Norton. Wynns are offering this most interesting former water mill house and miller’s cottage which has splendid views towards the Malvern Hills. Although the property is only believed to originate from the 19th century, there has been a mill on the site since 1066 and the ancient mill is even mentioned in the Domesday book. The property boasts considerable character and many of the interesting features one would expect in such a property, and it offers several possibilities. It had also been stressed by the selling agents that the property isn't listed, which would enable the creation of extra accommodation”.
Marketed by Cox & Company, Gloucester, in February 1994 at £150,000; "Former water mill needing restoration with attached fully modernised 3 bedroomed millers cottage".
It was still on the market in August 1994.
By 2002 Michael J and Tracey K Gill were in residence.
