Broxbourne Mill

Expand|date=November 2007

Broxbourne Mill is located at the Old Mill and Meadows Site Lee Valley Park, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire.

History

A mill stood here for 900 hundred years before being destroyed by fire on October 01,1949. It is the only mill in this area to be mentioned in the Domesday Book1086 [ [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43639 British History fn. 39] Retrieved November 08,2007] . The first known owners were the Knights of St.John of Jerusalem who held the mill to 1544 at the time of the Reformation. The mill ceased the milling of grain in 1891 and was used for a variety of uses till its destruction [ [http://www.lowewood.com/Broxbourne/Broxbourne_Mill.htm Lowewood Museum] Retrieved November 08,2007] .

Recent history

The remnants of the mill which were renovated by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority [ [http://www.leevalleypark.org.uk/en/content/cms/about_us/about_the_authority/about_the_authority.aspx Lee Valley Park Regional Authority] Retrieved November 08,2007] (LVRPA) in 1977 [ [http://www.leevalleypark.org.uk/en/content/cms/leisure/ware_waltham_abbey/river_lee_park/river_lee_park.aspx#Broxbourne%20Old%20Mill%20bookmark Old Mill and Meadows] Retrieved November 06,2007] included c16 brickwork floor and window frames of the c19 two-storey miller's house. The original water wheel has been restored to include replacement paddles made from re-cycled plastic which have a longer life, weigh less therefore placing less stress on the original wheel. Additional work included a new side sluice which when raised allow excess water to pass through.

Today

The mill and its surroundings which are open to the public are known as the Old Mill and Meadows site. The main bulk of which is wet meadows where water voles can be found. During the summer months dragonflies and damselflies are seen hovering over the reedbeds. The small piece of woodland provides habitat for birds and cover for small mammals such as the fox and the muntjac deer. Other activities here are angling which is permitted in the millpool and the millstream [ [http://www.leevalleyangling.co.uk/oldmill.htm Angling information] Retrieved November 08,2007] . Cycle hire is available in season and a model railway club is open to the public at certain times.

Facilities

*Riverside holiday chalets

*Car Park

*Toilets

*Refreshments at certain times

How to get there

Rail
* Broxbourne railway station is close byBuses
*310,311,C3By road
* A10 to A1170 to B194 Towards Broxbourne Station 2nd Right Churchfields 1st Left Mill Lane. By foot and cycle
*Lea Valley Walk

References