Windmill at Blyth?

[TriciaK]

Thanks, PHodgetts - so much information 
I don't think I've ever been so far up the river to that point (Bucks Hill). But many times passed the Crofton colliery site on Plessey Road.

[Gen List Lass]

The man from Beamish was talking about the future vision of Beamish and it was unclear as to whether it had been re-assembled or it is a work in progress. On the plan it is going near the Hall in the 1820 part.

Some very interesting stuff emerging about mills, here, there and everywhere!

There is a local mill website at http://northeastmills.wordpress.com and they mention another at http://www.millsarchivetrust.org/index.php   Neither mentions any mill at Blyth.

Gen in NBL England



Gen in NBL England

[Phodgetts]

Thanks Gen, I assume therefore, it is a copy / recreation and it is a work that is about to be unertaken or is already in progress. I'd like to get in touch with Beamish and learn more about this project. Maybe I can help them a little.

Thanks everybody for your contributions.

I shall now go look at the mills link you added.

P 

[Michael Dixon]

 A little bit of boring admin info!   Although today the sites of the two mills, (one at Crofton, other at Bucks Hill,)  are situated within Blyth, in their working days, they lay within the Township of Cowpen, outside any jurisdiction of Blyth.

 Michael

[dolly dimples]

 Glad to see Phillip turned up and put us right about this topic again.

    Sad to report tho' that the Windmill TriciaK mentioned is now definately up for sale.
      One can only guess what this one will become!
                                                                    Dolly
                             

[Cavanaghs]

My 3 x g grandfather Robert Stamp was the miller at Crofton North Mills according to his daughter Jane's baptism record in 1844.

At the time of the 1841 census Robert's sister Catherine is living in Bucks Hill Mill with her first husband William Wright, who is the M. Flour there. William dies in 1843 and Catherine marries again - William Smith Gilhespie - and continues to live in Bucks HIll Mill until her death in 1861. Her new husband is a labourer (1851 census) and Carter/Cartman from the time of the 1861 census. Presumably the mill falls out of use in the 1840s..

A map of the area available online (from the National Library Scotland Maps Sheet LXXIII ) shows Bucks Hill Mill was in ruins in 1865. I would love to know more about the dispute over the lease and when the mill was moved. It would be incredible if part of it now belongs to Beamish museum.

[Phodgetts]

Nice info Cavanaghs.

I understand that when Bucks Hill Mill was no longer in use, Crofton Mill was built to the south, and it took over the work done by Bucks Hill Mill. I would imagine that Beamish have relics from Crofton Mill rather than Bucks Hill Mill, since Crofton was demolished quite late to make way for the Crofton Mill pit. Why they removed the mill from the site I have no idea since the pit didn't actually encroach on the field over much that the mill occupied. Comparing old maps with modern, the field boundaries still exist and it is possible to identify the area where Crofton Mill once stood.

P

[Cavanaghs]

Just to clarify.. are Crofton Mills and Hodgsons Mills and the Mill Pit all one and the same?

[Michael Dixon]

 

  See Greenwood's 1828 map of Cowpen and Blyth Townships......
 http://communities.northumberland.gov.uk/006972FS.htm

 Crofton mill just north of North Pit ( also known as "B" pit)
 Crofton Mill pit at the south. Both mills marked with logo of a mill.

 Michael