SWX782 - The Old Malthouse Abbotsbury: the medieval watermill of the Benedictine Abbey; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society

A synthesis of archaeological and documentary research undertaken on the 'old malthouse' of St. Peter's Abbey, Abbotsbury. The conclusion of the article is that the building actually represents the remains of the old abbey water mill. The Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society made a full record of the remains of the water mill during the winter of 1984-5, although not finally completed till November 1985. This work followed on from the uncontrolled excavation of the interior infill of the building by the then tennant during the summer of 1984. The archaeological work entailed a full buildings survey of the remains of the mill and a record of the below ground remains. This latter record involved a small amount of archaeological excavation. At the same timea study of the documentary evidence for the mill was undertaken. Most of the fabric of the standing building dates to the 14th century. It probably housed two identical water wheels side by side in a central chamber, each driving a pair of mill stones. This arrangement may have replaced an earlier mill on the same site. An east wing of uncertain function was added in the late 14th century. After this the double wheeled arrangement was replaced by a single wheel, possibly in the mid 15th century. The building was converted to a dwelling following the dissolution and remained as such until the mid-18th century.