There is evidence of a house at Hall Place as far back as 1241, but it is probable that a mill stood here even earlier, when the Doomsday book was compiled in 1086. Mills continued to be sited here into the 20th century with water powering a variety of industries including textile printing and kettle making. In about 1640 Richard Champney quarrelled with Sir Francis Leigh, the wealthy Lord of the Manor of East Wickham. In revenge, Sir Francis instructed his men to divert the course of the River Cray, cutting off the water supply to the mill, causing an important order of forty copper kettles for the navy to be delayed. The Admiralty intervened, and Leigh was summoned to appear before the court of the Star Chamber for his bad behaviour.