Stambridge Mill: mill lane: This is the site of a post windmill, built in 1816. However, Mill Lane gets its name from a much older mill which stood at the end of the road, on the shores of the river. It was driven by tidal power, you can still see the remains of the old tidal pound. In its heyday, the pound covered three acres. As the tide rose, it was filled with sea-water through a pair of canal type gates, which then closed as the tide fell again. The water then escaped along a short mill stream, turning a large wheel.
A tidal mill mill has worked here since at least 1500, and it is known that the mill was rebuilt in 1762, but the details of Stambridge Mill are unclear until the 19th century. In 1809 the owner built a completly new four-storey wooden stucture here. It was leased in 1824 to William Hugh Rankin, whose family were to run the business for 138 years. Rankin enlarged the mill-pond, and finally bought the mill outright.
Here at Stambridge, a more powerful steam mill was built alongside the old tidal mill, although this new structure burned down in 1878. Its replacement was a tall five-storey brick structure which formed the mainstay of the business. By this stage, the old tidal pound was rapidly silting up. It therefore held less water, and the tidal mill became less efficient. Despite this, it continued to work as recently as 1951. In 1962, the business was sold to Associated British Foods, and the old abandoned tidal mill burned down just a couple of years later. Only the the tidal pound remains to show the humble origins of this important industry.
Extract from Essex Coastline: Then and Now, by M.P.B. Fautley, J.H Garon.
Sadly this site is now a pale comparison to the picture that I have included here, from I would say early 1950s, just a splendid moment in time when life was a lot slower, and these chaps stop for a chat with their bikes. Don't forget your scribbler and, Oh! good luck to you. Congrats to $tu---son of Grobo! on the ftf.
