Stebbing Mill, Mill Lane

[Glenpenny]

My 4 x g.grandfather was the miller here in 1813.  I've just been browsing the web and it appears that this mill is still standing.  Is there any kind soul out there who lives locally and would be good enough to take a photograph?

Glenys

[fedelmar]

My PLAYLE family were millers there as well

[Glenpenny]

I've no connection that I know of with that name.  Around what date was that?

Glenys

[fedelmar]

The PLAYLE's were millers in Stebbing for around 100 years then my line left there in the early half of the 1800's as they turn up on the 1841 census in Harlow.  Their Mill was well known for its French Stones. 

The WHITEHEAD's were millers in Stebbing.

[Glenpenny]

Hmmmm.  My information came from the baptismal record of an Eliza Bambridge in 1813 at Mill Lane Independent Chapel.  Father, Daniel, was described as a miller.

In 1841 some of the family were still living in Mill Lane but this particular Daniel was at Duck End, Stebbing.  I'm not too sure which part of the village this would be.

If your lot were still there in the early part of the century, either Daniel took over from them or there was more than one mill.

How can we set about finding out?

Glenys

[fedelmar]

I have some information regarding the mills that I need to fish out.  Bear with me a couple of days (have rellies up from the country for chemo) and I will get back to you.  If I haven't put the info up by Friday let me know.

The other thing is ... I would need to purchase a plane ticket to the UK then hire a car to get to Stebbing   I am in Western Australia !

[Glenpenny]

You've more research problems then I have then!  I'm in Lancashire.  Bet it's a bit warmer though, we've had our first snow for years today.

I've been on the Essex villages website where there are a couple of old directories,.  There are three millers listed in 1832 so presumably three mills.  The millers were named as Samuel Choppin, Joseph Dixon and Thomas Jasper.

Have also had a look on the mills archive website and there apparently is a picture of the Town Mill at Stebbing in something called SPAB Mills Section Newsletter - Issue 91 Page 1.  Would cost at least a tenner though to obtain this.  Not much more information for us I don't think.  Will keep looking.

Glenys

[MiddleEnglander]

Dear Glenpanny and Fedelmar ...

Was fascinated by the topic so I though I'd have a quick look at the SEAX site at the ERO.  This specific document came up which relates directly to the mill at the time you are looking at:

D/F 35/1/4

Dates of Creation    1803-1804
Scope and Content    Valuer's notebook

Hardings and Repentance Farms, Greenstead and Bobbingworth, including crop details, 1800-1804; property belonging to Peter Harris, miller, Takeley including STEBBING MILL and House, including farming stock and watermill stock;

Date From    1803
Date To    1804

There is also a tith map dated circa 1830 which is stated to include drawing of the TWO mills at Stebbing.  So, worth a visit to the ERO/SEAX website !

The plot thickens !!

Aye

MiddleEnglander

[Glenpenny]

Thank you for the help MiddleEnglander.

I've just spent a couple of hours trawling through Seax and it seems there were at least two watermills in addition to the two post mills on the tithe map you pointed me to.  The two watermills were Bran End Mill and Stebbing Town Mill (T/Z 33/1)

I also found a reference to a release (not sure what one of these is) which connects the Playle name to Bran End Mill, (D/DGe/182) so at least Fedelmar will know where her ancestors operated.

I might just enquire about the tithe map, presumably it should lead to the names of who was responsible for the tithes on the post mills although searching for the surname Bambridge on Seax got me nowhere.

Anyone know the location of the town mill?  Was this down Mill Lane?  I think Bran End was/is at the further end of Stebbing from the parish church and Mill Lane but could be wrong.

Glenys