Monument record MDO980 - Watermill and mill dam, Dewlish

Earthworks of a mill pond dam and a 13th century watermill. The dam and an associated mound are visible as low earthworks on lidar imagery and were digitally recorded during the Dorset Upper Cern and Piddle AIM Project.

SY 77879940. A former mill-pond dam (shown but not described on OS 6" 1963) lies across the valley of the Devil's Brook, 100 yards north of Dewlish Mill. It consists of a massive earthern bank 60 yards long, 10 to 15 yards wide and 6 to 8 feet high. Both ends have been destroyed. At the west end, a large quarry scoop in the valley side, and disturbed ground through which the brook now flows, may be the site of the original mill; probably one recorded in 1317. <1>

Examination of the site revealed the building platform of the early 14th century mill which was worked by the water ponded behind the dam. <2>

The mill dam remains generally as described by R.C.H.M. (1). It is 53.0m. long by a maximum of 16.0m, wide, and its height is 2.0m. The mill platform is probably the slight earthwork at SY 77859938 where an angular depression 0.4m deep cuts into a north slope with a bank 0.3m high around the south and east sides. The flat interior is about 4.7m. across. Re-surveyed at 1:2500 on M.S.D. <3>

The dam and an associated mound are visible as low earthworks on lidar imagery and were digitally recorded during the Dorset Upper Cern and Piddle AIM Project. <5>

<1> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2, 88 (Monograph). SDO136.

'(8) Embankments (77879940), parts of a former mill-pond dam lie across the valley of the Devil's Brook, 100 yds. N. of N. of Dewlish Mill. They comprise a massive earthen bank, 60 yds. Long, 10 yds. To 15 yds. Wide and 6 ft. to 8 ft. high; both ends have been destroyed. At the W. end, a large quarry scoop in the valley side and disturbed ground, through which the brook now flows, may be the site of the original mill: probably it was the one recorded in 1317 (P.R.O., Assize Roll No. 1375, m. 15).'

<2> Taylor, C C, 1974, Fieldwork in Medieval Archaeology, 90 (Monograph). SDO17547.

<3> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F1 JGB 21-OCT-80 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 454605 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<5> Environment Agency, 15-DEC-2023, LIDAR Environment Agency DTM (Aerial Photograph). SDO20691.

Record last edited

Aug 11 2024 8:09PM