User:Oojamaflip99/Bromham Mill

Bromham Mill is an historic watermill situated in Bromham, Bedfordshire, England near Bedford.

Setting the Scene
The River Great Ouse divides for c.300m just north of Bromham Mill with the mill standing across the western branch just before they rejoin. It is uncertain whether the mill utilises a broadened natural watercourse or a purposely dug leat, as is often the case. A mill is likely to have occupied this site from at least late Saxon times when no bridge existed nearby as today. For much of its history the mill belonged to the Manor or Bromham and from medieval times would have ground the lord's grain whilst his tenants would have been obliged to have their grain milled there exclusively for a charge (multure). Commercial operations would only have developed during the post-medieval period and these continued into the 20th century when in the hands of the Quenby family, though little milling was done there from the late 1930's and none after 1971. By 1973 the building was dilapidated and to secure its future it was bought by Bedfordshire County Council. However. in 1974 it was further damaged by fire, but subsequent restoration enabled it to be opened to the public in 1983.

The building
The present mill is an 18th or early 19th century rebuilding in brick, timber and stone on the site of earlier mills. It had two waterwheels, one wooden and undershot driving three pairs of stones, and the other iron and breastshot driving two. However. only the latter remains and was restored in 1980. From the 1930s, due to low water flow, an oil engine was needed to give power with electricity supplying the other machinery. Much of the machinery is still visible inside the mill. On the outside an eel trap was fitted into the sluice gate. Across the courtyard to the west stands the Millers House whilst there are fine weatherboarded barns to the north