Tyne and Wear HER(957): Boldon watermill - Details
957
S Tyneside
Boldon watermill
Boldon
NZ36SW
Industrial
Water Power Production Site
Watermill
Medieval
C14
Documentary Evidence
In 1381 the tenants of Boldon paid $17 13s 4d rent for one watermill and one windmill: it is not clear which of these might have been the mill mentioned in Boldon Book (a survey of land in 1183 belonging to the Bishop of Durham, Hugh du Puiset). There is no medieval evidence for the location of this watermill. The site of Boldon Mill, with pond and race, on the River Don, shown on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey 6 inches map of 1856 may or may not be that of the medieval mill. Local information suggests that the 20th century mill was powered by gas engine before being finally demolished. It was lived in until the late 1950s and demolished in 1962/3. Most of the features still exist; including the ground plan of the original buildings, the mill race, mill pond, mill dam and some stonework in the river bank and bed. A substantial length of the leat is still in existence several hundred metres from the site, and its source has been traced to the site of the mill dam. Consolidation and restoration of parts of the mill complex are planned.
3437
6274
NZ34376274
<< HER 957 >> W. Greenwell, 1852, Boldon Book, Surtees Society, 25, p. 45
W. Greenwell, 1856, Bishop Hatfield's Survey, Surtees Society, 32, p. 100
Ordnance Survey maps, 1856, 1st ed. 6, Durham III
1594, Boldon Water Mill, ZCE 9/11 -Northumberland Records Office
Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 1915, Miscellanea, ref. to watermill near Boldon, 3, VI (for 1913-14), p. 212
South Tyneside Groundwork Trust, 1992, Boldon Mill
Tyne and Wear Museums,1992, Don Valley Survey, p 7
Pers. Comm. D. Carter, South Shields Teachers Centre
I. Ayris & S.M. Linsley 1994, A Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of Tyne and Wear, p 59