Barton Mill
Barton Mill, c.1910-1930 [ref: Z1130/7/6]
Barton mill is a four-storey timber framed and timber clad building on a brick base which is believed to date from 1852 (the date on the surviving waterwheel), it ceased working in 1928. The mill had state of the art machinery which survived largely intact, this included a flour pressing machine which could produce three grades of flour. A new mill house was built with an auxiliary post mill, which was subsequently moved to Barton Hills, where is stayed until 1865 when it was destroyed by a fire. There was a mill attached to Barton manor at the time of the Domesday Survey in 1086 was worth 2s.
The Rating and Valuation Act 1925 specified that every building and piece of land in the country was to be assessed to determine its rateable value. The valuer visiting the property, on 21st February 1927 [ref: DV1/C22/118] found it be owned by H T Hynds but listed as vacant and derelict.
The property is noted as being four stories with three sets of stones "but only one has been used in the last few years". Land surrounding the mill, also owned by H T Hynds included a cow house, two sheds, fields and mill banks.
The beginning of the 20th century saw a decline and changes in the stream that powered the watermill impaired the conditions. Abstraction of ground water and highway works resulted in a decrease in the quantity of water reaching the mill. During the construction of the bypass the millstream was lowered. The bypass now separates the mill from the village, and it has been redeveloped into a shopping village and garden centre with tea room, café and antique centre.
List of sources at Bedfordshire Archives:
- CRT130BAR/8: Photocopy of sale catalogue for water, corn and grist mill together with dwelling house and newly erected post windmill known as Barton Mills, 1855
- Z1130/7/6: View of water mill in Barton, 1910-1930s
- DV1/C22/118: Rating valuation book, 1927
- Z402/11/4: (5) papers on Barton Mill
- DCSP/SB/TP/74/375: Planning application for proposed bungalow & house at Barton Mill, 1974
- X881/6/B4: Photographs of Barton Mill, 1990-1998