Lost local windmills (concluding part)
It would appear that the article about lost mills in the last newsletter has evoked some interest, at least someone is reading it! The position stated regarding Mardyke mill in south Hornchurch could be questionable. I received a map of 1844 from Russell Spencer which clearly shows a map symbol of a mill on the west side of the Beam river as opposed to the east side and about a quarter of a mile further south. I have since researched this and found that this mill was in fact a smock mill known as Beam mill. It probably existed until around the 1880’s and no photographic evidence exists but some refer the mill as not being unlike Upminster or Baker Street, Orsett. The site today lies west of the old A13 (now A1306) and immediately opposite the junction of Thames way. Rough land marks the spot next to the existing ‘Mill House Social Club’. The Mardyke mill had long since disappeared before 1844, though a mill mound was apparently still evident, but not always added onto maps, so the position of this mill is still not fully determined.
Romford windmills
Again with all the roads, concrete buildings and urban houses of today, it is difficult to imagine that windmills once existed in Romford, but they did, even very close to the town centre. Three known ones with references of others with a further two in Collier Row (one of which was actually a wind pump).
The Rising Sun post mill stood behind the pub of the same name (now the Goose) opposite the station. Milling here started way back in the 1600’s and continued until about 1876. The onset of the railway with its high embankment and further overshadowing of the Star steam mill adjacent from c1850 must have been a nightmare for the miller for winding and may have helped in its final demise. Hornchurch Lane (now South street) was once a country lane and was described as ‘a pleasant walk as you stroll pass the mill and across the fields’. Now look what’s there!
The parade of shops along Victoria Road just past Honda bikes are still known as ‘old mill parade‘, with the name plate still on the façade and the Old Mill café that occupies one of these premises has a path way along the side that passes the mill site. The site can be best seen from the Upminster platform on Romford station. It is now just an open space.
Two mills with references of two others stood in London Road east and west of Romford and owned by a milling family known as Collier. At some point a Collier had a hand in the business of four of the Romford mills, including the Rising Sun mill.
Edward Collier postmill stood at the east end of the market in London road (now Main road) and opposite the junction of Pettits lane and probably near the corner of Erroll road and Main road. Site now occupied by the large hotel. A long established milling site, but it possible this site was favoured from an original site north of Main road c1618 apparently on a mill mound (opposite Junction Road) which was to be seen on an OS map of 1921 but long since gone. The favoured site probably was established c1730s. The precise date of the final years of the mill is not well documented but probably lasted till the mid 1800s. As far as I’m aware, no picture of the mill survives
Pratts Collier Postmill stood at west side of the town, just south of the London road and about 130yards west of St Andrews road, probably on the site of the old bus station that used to be there, now a modern complex. Again an early mill c1730. Said to have been built on an established mound, the mill existed until c1867. The Collier family took the mill over in about 1793 with Pratt Collier being the last occupier. An old print shows the mill behind St Andrew’s school (since gone). No evidence of the mill survives, but apparently the old mill house does and I believe it is or was known as Yew Tree cottage. I have tried finding it with little success.
An old map of around 1724 shows a mill of unknown type standing on the north side of the London road 200 yds north east of St Andrews road junction but may well have been the one described above, but not confirmed from any other source so it may be questionable.
Collier Row mill post mill c1810 stood behind Lawns social club (previously a public house) and formally the original mill house, on the south side of Lawns way. The first miller was actually a Mr Miller and also during its brief existence at some point the Colliers, who ran most of the other Romford mills, occupied it. Probably existed until c1862, there is no visible clues of its existence today. The Lawns house has since been demolished and a new housing complex, known as Virginia close, occupies the site. The contour of the land would suggest a superb place to wind a mill. It is easy, even today, to picture the mill standing here if you walk through Lawns park that lies behind the site. The park is remnants of Collier Row common.
Finally a mystery. A windpump is said to have stood in Pettits. Not much is known of it and its precise location is not known. Probably existed c1770s. Apparently in an old Rex Wailes book a picture of Gobions windpump can be seen. If this is the same mill, then it probably stood somewhere near Pettits lane, Mashiters Hill or even Gobions Way. If anybody knows anything regarding this mill, please let me know.
Trevor Watts