The mill has a long history and is connected intrinsically with the surrounding area, it’s a charming and historic former watermill, listed Grade II, and situated in a beautiful position on the banks of the River Nene. A well-known and interesting landmark which offers wonderfull views of the Nene in the lovely valley below the village of Great Doddington in Northamptonshire. Water from the mill stream still passes under the building through the mill race. Restored sympathetically, the mill retains much of it’s original charm with a modern luxurious twist.
Mentioned in the Domesday Book (c1086), the ancient mill has ground flour from grain for over 1000 years. After the Norman conquest of 1066 it was given by William the Conqueror to his niece Judith, who was also related to the Marquis of Northampton. According to local legend, the mill became a brief hiding place for Thomas a Beckett, Archbishop of Canterbury, who was imprisoned at Northampton Castle awaiting trial before King Henry II in 1164. He succeeded in escaping its walls and eventually fled, making his way down river to be sheltered by the miller before fleeing to France. The mill stayed in the hands of the Marquis of Northampton as a working mill until 1919 when it was sold for the princely sum of £729 7s. 6d. Finally the mill was decommissioned after the Second World War when the Nene Commissioners took over the milling rights in exchange for the duties concerning maintenance of the river banks and levels which until then were the miller’s responsibilities, the mill machinery was removed and destroyed. |
