Tockett's Mill
| Tockett's Mill | |
|
Yorkshire | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type: | Water mill |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NZ62721808 |
| Location: | 54°33’15"N, 1°1’54"W |
| History | |
| Water mill | |
| Information | |
| Owned by: | Tees Heritage Trust |
Tocketts Water Mill, or simply Tocketts Mill, stands on Tocketts Beck south of Upleatham in the North Riding of Yorkshire. It is among the best-preserved working water mills in the country.
Records suggest Tocketts Mill was established before 1272 and was one of four medieval corn mills powered by the same beck running through the valley. Like other mills, it was modified over the centuries. However, when industry extended into the area in the 19th century, the mill was greatly enlarged to meet the increased demand for flour, and the current iron waterwheel and gearing were installed.
The current mill stands on foundations dating to around 1450.
In 1900, the mill’s tenancy was passed to William Seaton, who milled animal feed. Apart from a brief time during the two World Wars, the mill did not commercially mill flour again. The waterwheel finally stopped turning in 1960. Twelve years later, when the last tenant died. Tocketts Mill then returned to Zetland Estates, which opened a caravan park on the site and used the mill as the site office.used the mill as the site office.
Preservation
The mill is now cared for by a charitable trust, Tees Heritage Trust in 2013, which has acted as a consultant on mill restorations in the Tees valley area (as well as restoring such things as Redcar Town Clock, a First World War acoustic mirror Redcar, the Zetland Hotel stable block in Saltburn and the 17th-century Ivy House at Cowpen Bewley.