Moira MacQuaide’s history of Burpham

The earliest examples of watermills date from the Romano-British period, so it is possible that there was a mill here that early, but the Domesday Book records that there was a mill in Burpham in 1086AD, one of over 5000 recorded around the country, which was valued at 15 shillings.

Of course, it may not have been in exactly the same spot, as the Wey Navigation wasn’t built until the 1650s, but the ancient mill would have been by the original river. The mill would have belonged to the Lord of the Manor and villagers were required to grind their corn there, paying a toll to the Lord.

The mill first appeared on a map in 1729 by John Senex, marked as a paper-mill. Some documentation suggests that there were two mills in Burpham, one for corn and one for paper, and certainly the Tithe Map of 1838 clearly says Bowers Mills, but it isn’t clear whether it was one building or two. It seems that papermaking in Burpham died out by the late 1790s and, although there was a brief period of producing linseed oil, by the 1830s it had reverted to being a corn mill. By the 1890s, with Robert Ranger as miller, new machinery was installed, but by 1910 milling had ceased in Burpham. Watermills were generally at least three storeys tall, with a hoist to raise the corn to the top, the millstones on the middle floor and the ground flour collected on the lower floor.

The mill, mill house and mill lodge were bought by the Duke of Sutherland in the early 20th century. The mill itself was demolished in about 1945, with all the timber being relocated to Sutton Place, and a new building was erected, to be used as a laundry for his estate. Apparently, when the Duke and his family were at their house in Scotland, their washing was sent by train down to Burpham and then back up again. Bower’s Mill is now a residential home – a lovely building by the river, with Bower’s Mill House next door.

If you are willing to share your memories and/or photos to tell us more about Burpham then please contact Moira MacQuaide, either by e-mail (moira.macquaide@gmail.com) or by phone or text (07963 756543). My book, Burpham – A Gateway to Guildford is still available from me for £10 (free delivery locally) or on Amazon, but the History of Burpham Primary School 1908-2014 is now out of print (available to borrow at Guildford Library).