Remains of West Mill, Corfe Castle

Summary

The ruined remains of West Mill lie on the west side of the Corfe River and 50m west of Vineyard Bridge.

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Description

The ruined remains of West Mill lie on the west side of Corfe River and 50m west of Vineyard Bridge. On a terrace beside the river lies a limestone wall approximately 15m long and 2m high built into the hill slope. A brick arch at the south end of this wall forms an alcove. Two stumps of walls, running north, extend from the east face of this wall. The west ends of two buildings are visible in the hillslope to the south east. Further south an overgrown bank may be the remains of another building. A mill has existed here since the 16th century, both Ralph Treswell's map of 1585 and John Hawsteed's early 17th century map show the building. There may have been a mill here in the medieval period as a water mill is mentioned in 1270 linked with the demesne lands of the castle ( Mills 1986, 19). The Rowbarrow Hundred court met here. West Mill was rebuilt in the 18th century and building records survive in the Bankes Archive dated 1730 which mention a malt mill. The 1769 map records a mill and stable here. The 1889 Ordnance Survey map shows the mill buildings but the mill leat was no longer in use. The mill buildings were demolished in the early 20th century.
The ruins are covered by rough grass and scrub woodland. Fences around the site have recently collapsed and livestock are crossing the ruin and causing rapid erosion.

18/02/2024:- SNA70090 / ENA10877
During the 1997 work, only the ruin of the mill was excavated because the roots of trees and shrubs were causing severe damage to this building. The other buildings were better protected by a scree of soil and rubble which had built up around them since abandonment.
The south wall of the mill was supported by a terrace of soil which was 3m higher than the interior floor level. From the south wall, the east and west walls diminished in height from 1.5m down to 0.4m to the north. The north wall only survived 0.2-0.4m high, since it had been badly damaged by robbing, collapse and the roots of a fallen tree which had torn up the footings on the western side.
During the excavation the rubble of the mill interior was excavated to the most recent occupation level, and on the south terrace the footings of the mill head race were revealed.

Conclusion
West Mill had been built by the end of the 13th century as the demesne mill of Corfe Castle. Evidence of the medieval mill was not found during the excavations but map evidence shows that the mill has occupied the present site at least since 1586. It is likely that the mill has been rebuilt and re-equipped on many occasions and the evidence of the 18th-century building accounts supports this.

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