Querns were used for grinding grain, several of which have been found by local farmers when ploughing land. John Cruse, Secretary of the Prehistory Research Section of the Yorkshire Archaeological Society, after viewing in 2016, described the above as being a beehive quern of the Late Iron to Romano-British date. It was discovered at a location near Farnley (Hall), well away from Roman Roads, so was typical of a Romano-British settlement.
1279 The mills (plural) of Pool are mentioned in an inquisition taken at York in June 1279 “as yielding with other things there an annual rental of 50s. to the Lord Archbishop of York, and the said lord is bound by his charter to defend them against whomsoever it be.” This would probably be the corn mill as the name of Milner (Miller) is shown in the poll tax returns of 1379 for Pool, as John de Milner paying 4d. ( H.Speight).
1674 Pool Manor Court Rolls show fines made by the Lady of the Manor to villagers not using her Corn Mill also removing stone from the hillside.
The remains of the corn mill are on Mill Lane, known as Corn Mill Lane in 1851. The mills of Pool were mentioned in 1279, as above. This may well have been this same corn mill on Mill Lane. According to the survey by West Yorkshire Archaeological Service, (WYAS PRN 1406) carried out in 1992/95, the Nuns of Arthington owned the mill when Thomas, son of Isaac de Pouill in 1254 gave a culture of land in Pool existing in length from *Milnbeck to the highway leading to York, to the Nuns of Arthington. The owner of Pool in 1166 was Serlo de Povel (Leeds Library) who was the son of Peter de Arthington who founded Arthington Nunnery in 1166. Through the centuries the mill was owned by the Lords of the Manor. *Miln is the old English for mill.
Mention of the corn mill was in the Pool Manor Court Rolls of 1676 when the lady of the Manor, Everyld Thornhill fined her tenants for not using her corn mill to grind their corn, but instead used another mill.
1673 The Lady of the Manor, Everyld Thornhill fines Ralph Allan, “tenant of the aforesaid manor, 10/- because he ground all his grain and malt which he spends and consumes in his house, at a mill outside the aforesaid Manor and not at the mill of the Lady of the Manor against the custom of the same manor.”
The map of 1756 shows that “Kiln Garth”, ” Dam” and “Mill Hill “ were on the estate of Thomas Thornhill, who was at that time Lord of the Manor of Kirskill (Creskeld) and Poole. In 1767 the corn mill is shown on Jeffreys Survey map of the County of Yorkshire and also on a map of 1847 as “Poole Corn Mill”.
Another name for the mill pond was “gathering pond”. The field along side, to the north of the mill pond, has been known as Mill Hill and “Yellands” (Tythe map of 1849) which is from the Anglo Saxon meaning sloping land. This area was used as a waste disposal site in the 1930’s, the reason it is now level.
The floor of the pond is stone lined and if change is needed, this has to be done in the company of a surveyor to note any industrial artifacts which could be found.
The mill was fed by water from three streams which came from the land and released into the nearby River Wharfe. The first, was Kirskill Beck (old name for Creskeld) or Pool Beck on Pool map of 1756. This fast flowing beck ran in the opposite direction to the River Wharfe, diverted before 1756 to feed the mill pond from a beck which began near the railway at Arthington, and ran at the bottom of the cricket field until c. 1970 when it was rerouted to take the original route past Pool Crookes Farm into the river Wharfe. This still forms the boundary between Arthington and Pool to the west of the Wharfedale Hotel.
A second beck ran down behind the Parklands and Plainville (Monkmans, demolished, now The Hollies) which still continues alongside the cricket field. A third beck came down through Hall Farm (now Chapel Hill) which now runs under the main road and Millcroft, (originally past Brook Cottage), to emerge near the garages and into the mill pond. Both the beck from Hall Farm and one which runs between the Hollies, and to the back of some houses on Parklands, are deep culverts lined with stone.
Two paths also served the mill. One ran to Main Street and presumably the Manor House or Pool House (owned by John Millthorp, woollen mill owner farmer and maltster or brewer, in 1822). The other, part of which still remains, running to Arthington Lane, emerging at the Bar House. This connected the mill with Pool Farm Cottage, originally a malting (brewing) house and the White Hart owned by the Milthorp’s when a farm. This early family were farmers and maltsters, the family living at Arthington in the late 1600’s and later Leathley with Elizabeth & Isabella Milthorp at Arthington also malsters in 1821. Some members owning Pool High/Walk mill and Low Mill.
Serving the corn mill were the mill house and mill barns, now converted Mill Cottages (see history below)
Drying tiles removed from the site during the 1992 excavation
We know that the remains of the site we see today was a water powered mill from at least the middle of the 17th century. (suggested medieval by WYAS) As well as making flour, it was also be used for drying cereal for the making of malt used in brewing. From the map above it can be seen a path lead from the mill to the south. This led to the old malting house of Pool Farm Cottage Listed (date above the ddoor is 1725), the majority of this path can still be seen. The main farmers in the area in the 1700’s were the Milthorp’s who are recorded as also maltsters, owning both the Half Moon Inn and The White Hart Inn in 1822 when farms. Other maltsters were John Fleetham of Pool Hall 1719, Michael Nicholson, Snr. (1750-1818)
The corn mill would have played a very important part in the development of the village and was much sought after by landed gentry who were the Lords of the Manor. As early as 1293 Richard de Goldsburgh purchased Creskeld and Pool from William de Povel
1254 Thomas de Pouill gives land to Nuns of Arthington (see above)
1279 The mills (plural) of Pool are mentioned in an inquisition taken at York in June 1279 “as yielding with other things there an annual rental of 50s. to the Lord Archbishop of York” (H. Speight)
Research reveals the following were occupiers of the Corn Mill
1750 (Land Tax returns from 1781 show William Pilling paying £1.2.0d. to the proprietor, George Thornhill, Lord of the Manor). Running the corn mill was *William Pilling, Yeoman (Fawkes papers) (d.1807 grave age 74), wife Phoebe, son died 1766 age 3, daughter Mary died 1790 aged 21, 2 brothers John died 1818 aged 57 & William d. 1823 age 48. Grave record seem to indicate one William married Hannah Pighills died 1857 aged 53 years. Phoebe Pighills died 1858 aged 32
William Pilling owned land just below Sandy Lobby on Award map of 1774.
1756 part of map of Pool showing “mill, mill garth and kiln” (map courtesy of Don Cole)
1774 Date above door of Mill House on Mill Lane. This is the date when the mill property was advertised to let. William Pilling, yeoman was already running the mill at this time.
1781 George Thornhill & William Pilling (land tax returns Pool 1781)
(George Thornhill of Diddington, Hunts, in 1805 sold the Manor of Pool, which included farms, cottages, the water corn mill, fields and closes to Edward Armitage of Farnley Hall, Leeds, ironmaster, of Farnley Iron Co. (Armitage & Co) iron and coal masters.) Joseph Pilling born in Pool in 1767 was most likely related, renting land from the Fawkes family in 1775 for 10/6d
1795 It is interesting to note that in 1795 when food was scarce the annals state:
“During the dearth Walter Fawkes of Farnley Hall distributed weekly, 20 loads of wheat amongst the poor on his estate and its neighbourhood: at the same time he used the most rigid economy in his own house and his benevolent example so affected the neighbouring millers that they offered to grind for the poor gratis.”
1807 21st March. William Pilling dies. (d.1807 grave age 74), “we may confidently add he was indeed an honest miller” (Leeds Mercury)
1807 John Pilling son of William (d.1818 age 57) wife Phoebe,
1818 William Pilling died 1823 aged 48)
1821 The Bains Directory states Samuel Grunwell was at the corn mill.
1822 Samuel Grunwell, miller.
1829 Thomas Pullein purchased the Manor of Poole which included the “water corn mill”.
1834 William Leafe (also on 1841 Census) William Leefe and John Lister were millers who worked there.
1841 census Abraham Huddleston then aged 70, shown as a corn miller. (see gravestone.) Also William Leafe corn miller on 1841 census.
1841 John Lister (shown as “Journeyman corn miller” in 1841 census)
1849 Tythe Map shows Joseph Dyson as occupier of “Yellands, Mill Dam, corn, barn, outbuildings & hard.”.
1851 census shows J. Dyson & Sons (Joseph) employing 20 men. (Elder son Joseph, younger son John 1857 James Harrison . John Harrison (1871 census)
1861 P.O. directory “commercial” gives James Harrison – corn merchant and miller.
1871 census shows Thomas Horner being a corn miller.
1871 census shows Richard Huddleston as a Pool corn miller.
1871 census Thomas Pullein (then Lord of the Manor of Pool) owner of the property, employing 3 men & 1 boy and farming 100 acres. Wife Hannah, sons Robert, Walter, William, Alfred, daughters Issmey, Sarah, Hannah.
1874. 4th April ad. in Leeds Mercury – “To Let , at Poole near Otley, a well-watered CORN MILL, with four pairs of stones, four acres of Land, House and Outbuildings. Apply to Messrs. Pulleins. Immediate Possession can be given. Rent £35.”
1874 Nov 2nd. Thomas M. Pullein leases the mill to Thomas Grunwell for £30.10s. per quarter (Pullein documents).
(An auction advert in the Wharfedale Observer of 1886 (below) which seems to suggest that it was the same Thomas Grunwell, or relation of, who rented Pool Corn mill in 1874.)
1877 Thomas Grunwell miller
1881 Thomas Horner is shown on the census and a corn miller. (see also 1871)
1886 21st May “At the White Horse Hotel, Otley, Water Corn Mill at Weeton for sale by auction on May 24th. Fixed machinery, drying kiln, stable, yard, pig cotes and a close of land called Mill Green otherwise Mill Garth now in the occupation of Mr. T. Grunwell. Containing an area of about 1a.2r.”
1891 Reginald Fairburn, was the miller aged 15 working with his father at Arthington Mill until 1899 when the Mill was burnt down. He moved to Pool corn mill for a short while. Later around 1901, moving and was running, the Half Moon Temperance Hotel . Again, before 1911 he and his family lived at 5 Chevin View operating Pool telephone exchange.
c. 1900 Dibb & Reginald Fairburn were there
1902 The Corn Mill, grass field, mill house outbuilding and grass paddock came up for sale in 1902 by the Lords of the Manor of Pool, the Pulleins, but were withdrawn at £750. Thomas Pullein’s younger brother John of Pool married Sarah Jane Jowett of Idle and were living at the Corn Mill in 1910 (Pullein records on computer)
1910 It was still owned by the ex Lords of the Manor, John Milton Pullein & Percy Pullein (Electoral roll).The property at this time contained “Corn Mill Farm or Mill House Cottage, stabling, mistal and other buildings and mill pond”.
1912 Hartley Boulton.
1925 Dec. William L. Whiteley purchases the mill, mill dam and land to the River Wharfe from Mr. Arthur and Mrs. Margaret Elizabeth Glover (formerly of Pool) for £450.(deeds). The deeds show “A right of way for all purposes over Mill Lane so as to give access to the main road from Otley to Harewood”. There were four doors giving access to the Mill. “CornMill sale” “Documents & Maps” )
1936 Partly demolished for “safety” by the Whiteley’s.
1955 During a talk given by Holmes Whiteley, (1888- 1965) son of the founder of B.S.&W.Whiteley Ltd. paper mill on Pool/Otley Road he said of the power generated by the water at the old corn mill, “There is about ten horse power running to waste day and night. Who says “Shame” for wasting about seventy 100 watt lamps light. I have fetched flour which had been ground by this water power.”
1992/5 Survey of mill remains with full report carried out by West Yorkshire Archaeology Service. In 1992/5 West Yorkshire Archaeology Service made a superficial examination of the Mill with extensive proposals as to how to ensure the continued stability of the MONUMENT. (copies with R.G.M.C.) During the examination tiles were found from the drying floor which date from the middle of the 18C. The sluice gates, mill dam and mill race can still be seen, though rapidly becoming covered by weeds.
A Bed Stone survived from the corn mill and is on loan by the R.G.M.C to Pool School, now placed at their entrance.
1995 H.G.Muller of the West Yorkshire Archaeological Society in his report states,
“The site of Pool Mill has been occupied by a water-powered mill from at least the middle of the 18th century. It is possible that the water mill which appears on the Jefferys map of this period (1767) has its origins in the Medieval corn mill of Pool, for which documentary evidence exists, although the exact location is unknown. This possibility would seem to be supported by a superficial examination of the upstanding masonry on the site. The remains of Pool Mill are, therefore, not only of archaeological interest for the Industrial Period but also of potential archaeological interest for the Medieval and Post-Medieval periods.”
The old photo of c.1900, shown above, shows the corn mill when still in use. In 1929 much of the old machinery could still be seen, including four water wheels, two of which were wooden. Around 1930 the buildings were used by Pool Angling Club to house large tanks of fish which when hatched to “fry” were transferred to the Mill Pond. The corn mill was rented by Tankards and used as an electricians workshop for c. 30 years, until c. 1935 when the condition had deteriorated
Bert Whitehead and Roland Tankard remember it had two wooden mill wheels. Another stone found has three stones making up a circle, bound by a metal band. This was a more rare French bed stone, used for making fine flour, which is buried under the soil which covers the foundations. (Ted Joce) A much older millstone which had been replaced sometime in the past, was found and is now embedded in the driveway of the Old Mill House at the end of Mill Lane. Roland Tankard remembers that when he and his father, G.A.Tankard, used the buildings for their electrical business in the late 1920’s it had three mill stones inside. A red brick was found on the site marked “Whitakers, Leeds” which was almost certainly manufactured in Pool Bank Quarry.
For memories of the Huddleston family in Pool, Arthington corn mill and Arthington village, see below.
2000 Cleared remains show water course of the Corn Mill
2012 Mill wetland area
In 2009 the remains of the mill was cleared of weeds by the R.G.M.C. Also the same year, the much reduced in size mill pond was re-instated as a wetland area promoting wildlife, i.e. kingfishers, water and moor hens, ducks and geese. This was carried out by Harry Wardman of the R.G.M.C. Unfortunately inadvertently, many of the old willows and other trees were removed against the regulations given under the Conservation Area. The trees on top of the remains are to remain there as the roots are supporting them.
2012 a small copse was planted nearby to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of QE2, by the children of Pool C. of E. school, again in association with the RGMC (Recreation Ground Management Committee), with the guidance of Mr. Keith Wilson, MSc. MICFOR , husband of the Rev. Rachel Wilson, who in 2006 planted a further sapling to commemorate 800 years since the signing of the Magna Carta
2014 With the agreement of the R.G.M.C. an information board was placed near the old corn mill, designed and paid for by Pat Lazenby of Pool Archives with Peter Nutchie constructing the stand.
Plans showing the water courses of the mill and the general layout of the building
MILL COTTAGES, (“Parkers Cottages”) Mill Lane, which are behind the Old Mill House, were originally grain stores and single storey. The original height is marked by a kneeler stone on the left hand corner. They are marked on the map of 1756, when owned by the Lord of the Manor of Pool, Thomas Thornhill along with the corn mill, both remaining in the hands of the Lord of the Manor when owned by the Pulleins (Lords of the Manor to 1902) Around 1910 an upstairs was added by G.A. Tankard to make into four terraced houses for the then owners the Pulleins. (Vincent Parker). George Parker, son of Thomas Parker and his wife Edith (nee Kaye – daughter of Stephen Kaye Joiners and woodworkers till demolished and replaced by The Beeches) purchased the row of four terraced houses from the Pullein family. He acquired them gradually as they became vacant. George & Edith Parker occupied No 6, the end cottage nearest the river. He eventually owned the whole row. They then became known as “Parker’s Cottages”. Vinney Parker, George’s eldest son lived in the house at the other end of the row and bought them when they were sold off to settle his father’s estate. (Bryan Perrin, nephew)
Stephen Kaye’s (born 1845) saw mill business, “S.Kaye & Son Joiners, Horticultural Builder, Wheelwright” on Arhington Lane in 1910, was sold off when Arthur’s (son of Stephen) eldest son, Francis Bertram Kaye was killed in the World War 2. Arthur lost interest in the business after the loss of his son. The Whiteleys’, owners of Pool paper mill, purchased the business and George Parker, son-in-law of Stephen Kaye was made manager. This role was passed to George’s eldest son, Vincent, on George’s retirement. Vincent managed the business for the Whiteleys’ till his retirement circa 1976. George Parker passed away in circa 1953 aged 72. His wife preceded his demise in 1948. Vinney;s sister Mary also lived in the end cottage nearest to the river with her two sons, Bryan & Andrew. Vinny’s brother Leslie, emigrated to Canada in 1947 where he became the manager of a timber firm in Clearwater, Canada. (Bryan Perrin-relation). Rowland Tankard was born in one of these cottages c 1915. Vinney Parker had lived all his life in Pool and had been very involved in the village playing cricket, football, Country Players and an active member of St. Wilfrid’s Church. He died, aged 90 in 2002.
MEMORIES OF THE HUDDLESTON FAMILY
IN POOL, ARTHINGTON MILLS AND ARTHINGTON VILLAGE
Many members of the Huddleston family came to live in Pool during the 1800’s. A reference on Pools’ first census of 1841 shows Abraham Huddleston, aged 70 a corn miller with two daughters, Ann and Sarah, also Robert an agricultural worker. Prior to the building of a school in Pool in 1872, Sarah and Ann Huddleston ran a school in Park Buildings, Arthington Lane, Pool-in-Wharfedale.
This photograph of Pool school taken in 1912, shows at least five members of the Huddleston family, recognised by their descendant, Joan Buckle.
Richard Huddleston is shown as a corn miller at Pool in 1871. Members of the family continued moving from Arthington to Pool over the next century, working as agricultural labourers, at the Pool paper and cloth mills and many at Pool Bank quarries. The last known member to live in Pool was Nellie Huddleston who lived on Church View. Her husband had died age 34, after contracting silicosis whilst working at the quarry
The Chapel of Ease was dedicated and named St. Wilfrid’s Parish Church in 1880, at which time many gifts were given to the church. This font was a gift from William Huddleston who, it is understood from his descendant Joan Buckle, was a sculptor and it may have been designed and made by him. A number of gravestones in St. Wilfrid’s which are dedicated to the Huddelston family are beautifully carved and which are understood to be his work.
The following are memories of the family at Arthington Mill from 1771 and the village of Arthington.
(Family research shows it was written by Abraham Huddleston born in 1842, when a young man)
“My great-grandfather, Abraham Huddleston, came to Arthington Mills on 2nd July 1771. His wife’s name was Elizabeth; she was a Miss Heymalhatch. They came to Athington Mills from the Old Wind Mill on Woodhouse Ridge, Leeds; they had two sons and one daughter, Abraham, Isaac and Mary.
Abraham, my grandfather, he is buried at Pool. Mary married a John Wade. He came from Skipton. He came to learn to be a miller. His father’s name was Thomas Wade. This John and Mary Wade had a big family Their eldest son Thomas Wade at one time had Bramhope Mills. He was there a few years and left it to go to a farm in Harewood Moor, he died at Far Field Farm, Harewood and is buried at Adel Church. He was never married.
My grandfather Abraham married a Sarah Ingham of Kirskeld (Creskeld) I don’t know her father and mother’s name, but they lived at Warren House and my great-grandmother Ingham died there and is buried at Adel Church.
The steward’s name was Carmichael. He married one of the daughters of old Robert Dawson of Arthington. I have been told he behaved very bad to my father.
I remember there used to be a farmyard at the back of the cottages in the village; I think it belonged to Old John Wade who used to live at the Mills at one time. He was a little man but very quick on his feet; he would walk to Otley Market on a Friday at the age of 84 years.
The cottages in the village used to have some kind of ornament on the top: this was taken off when Mr. Sheepshanks enlarged the houses. There is a bit left on the old blacksmith’s shop.
I can remember some of the old people who lived at Arthington. Mr. John Myers, farmer: he was a very good old Christian man, he used to ask me many times if I did not intend making a start for the better country. There was an old man I knew very well called Old Kitty Hill; he used to work at the mill sometimes. Then there was old Joseph Gaythorpe; he worked for Mr. Sheepshanks for many years.
Arthington Mill was a very strong built place with grey slate roof, they were very thick slates. The walls of the Mill about two feet thick. It contained two pairs of gray stones, three pairs of French stones and one pair shilling stones, one wheat screen for cleaning the wheat, one silk for making flour. The mill was three storeys high and had two water wheels; they were called undershots, the water going on at about half past four p.m.
I remember the old people telling me that Thomas Arthington made a wood pump and it was connected to one of the water wheels and pumped the water to the top of Arthington Hall; it is said he made it – I think that is a mistake.
Near to the Mill was two Fulling Mills used in making of cloth, but they had been done away with long before I knew anything about the Mills. There is only the old fore-bay standing.
There was two houses belonging to the Mills, that one near the Mill was part of any old Drying kiln made into a house by my great-grandfather, Abraham, for his son Isaac. Mr Sheepshank built a new house where the old one stood. I don’t mean the new house Isaac Wade lived in.
I remember Mark Wade telling me about a young man being drowned. His name was William Dawson. He was going to fetch an old woman from the Castley side of the dam. Mark was standing at the front of the Mill and saw the boat go over the dam stones with the lad in it. When the boat came up again the lad was in the water. Mark called to him to stand still the water was up to the lad’s chin. The boat came near to him he tried to get a hold of it and sank before Mark could get to him and he was in the water nine weeks. He was the son of a Mr. Dawson of Pool Crooks. The lad was drowned on 23rd January 1846, aged 21 years. After this my uncle Abraham broke the boat up for firewood. There was no boat at the Mill for a long time after that. Mark Wade was a strong well-built man and a very good swimmer. He could carry two loads of shillings one under each arm, they were 19 stones each.
I remember an old man named Joseph Hornshaw, a tailor. He came from London. Father told me he went to people’s houses to work. He once gave him a coat to mend and gave him another coat to mend it with and when he had done he had no coat at all. He made my father a pair of breeches; he was riding to the Wetherby Market and had got as far as Harewood Moor, his horse did a big jump and the breeches split right up the back. He had to call at my uncle Thomas’s farm to get another pair. When he got his wages he used to run home with them in his hand; people used to give him a bit of work so that he could get something to eat. He was very poor.
The old school house and school was only one storey high and in a small garden at the top of the Mill Lane. The first school master I can remember was Mr. Charles France, a noted fiddler and good schoolmaster. The next was a man named Birkenshaw. I don’t know anything about him. The next was Mr. Joseph Myers.
The old men I can remember who lived at Arthington: Joseph Gaythorpe, William Wade, Joseph Bulmer, joiner; Richard England, blacksmith; old John Wade, miller and farmer, he was father of Abraham Wade (Bains Directory, miller in 1821.) Joseph Woodhead, I have heard he went to Adel church on Sundays, when he got home he could remember all the sermon nearly word for word. Mr. Leuthwaite was Rector at that time. William Witley, I think the name was spelt. He was a blacksmith and worked for Lord Harewood a long time; next William Longfellow who used to be a waggoner at the Mill, afterwards as signalman on N.E. Railway.
Mr. Huddleston, cornmiller, all his family was born in that house: John Rhodes, he worked for Mr. Sheepshanks for many years; next Betsey Longfellow, single woman, next old Heaveysides, I don’t know anything of him. Old Nanny Myers, she used to keep a little shop, she sold sweets and tobacco and many useful small things. I remember her having pipes in the window.
There used to be an old barn at the end of the houses that belonged to John Wade: I think it was made into the chapel for the Wesleyans.
The names of the farmers who had farms in Arthington: John Myers, Abraham Wade, William Bayford, John Johnson, senior, Old Robert Mawson then after his son, Robert. Near Creskeld Lane end lived old James Clapham, his wife’s name was Crissy: she came to the mill for flour, she could carry two stones on her head all the way home, and she used to say that was not much.
I can remember an old thatched cottage standing in a small garden at Creskeld Lane end, the old place looked very nice in the summer time. I can remember the old man and his wife very well, his name was William Smith, he was taken by the Press Gang in the time of Nelson and returned to Arthington after the war was over. I think that is all I know about the village and the old people.
I should like to tell you something about the way we lived at the Mill in those days.
Breakfast: Porridge, milk and bread.
10 o’clock morning: Bread and pint of home-brewed ale.
Dinner: Beef and bacon, potatoes, Yorkshire pudding something extra on Sundays.
4 o’clock afternoon: Bread and ale.
Supper: Porridge, milk and bread.
There was not many stronger men about Arthington at that time; you can’t get any bacon now like that was. We shall never get any more.
The names of some of the old fiddlers that lived at Arthington:
Mark Gamble Robt. Huddleston
Charles France Abraham Wade, junr.
Wm. Huddleston Joseph Smith
Abraham Huddleston Jacob Huddleston
Wm. Wade Isaac Huddleston
Joseph Wade
The greatest flood I have heard of was at the time of my grandfather; the water was a high as the bottom of the mill windows.
Some of the men went and told grandfather that all the cattle about the place had been taken away by the water. He is reported to have said, “The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away”. He found them all next morning in the Holme near the Hall. When I was at the Mill we had stilts so we could get to the outbuildings when the water was high. All the men at the Mill could walk in stilts; sometimes I have known us have to walk about in a flood up to the middle in cold water, which was not very nice.
I have been told that an old millwright was killed when the Mill was built; his name was Crowther; the old people used to say he haunted the mere for many years. Be that as it may, I have known of strong men that dust not go up into the garret after dark. I have been in the Mill at all times of the day and night, but I never saw or heard anything unusual. I saw plenty of rats.
I have heard a story told of an Arthington man that was a soldier and was a deserter. The men came to seek for him many times. One time he was getting his dinner with the men at the Mill. Joseph Woodhead, one of the millers sitting near the door ran out and soldiers ran after him as far as Creskeld Beck. Woodhead asked them what they were running after him for, the man they wanted was running towards Harewood. The man’s name was Old Casesen. The never came seeking him again.”
(Arthington Mill Memories kindly donated by family member, Joan Buckle.)
ARTHINGTON MILL
The whereabouts of a mill run by the Augustinian monks of Bolton Priory is not known, though readings tell us it was situated close to the river Wharfe near Castley and Arthington
Arthington Mill is shown on this Harewood Estate map of c.1710
In 1673 the Lady of the Manor of Pool and Creskeld, Everyld Thornhill, daughter of Sir George Wentworth, defined the boundaries of her land. The eastern boundary came down from Black Hill to Arrowshawe, Scratchards Land to Poole Lane (Arthington Lane) to the River, going along the river towards Pool.
After defining her land, in 1674 she then instructed bayliffe, William Earnshaw, to notify the Court Baron and “warne all persons that doe owe any suite or service to the same Court to bee then and there to doe their respective services.. And that you impannell a convenient number of the Tennants of the said Mannour to make a Jury &c And that you yourselfe bee then & there present to make retorne hereof & doe your duety whereof you are not to faile at your perill.” She then issued fines to those members of her village who had not complied with her rules. There were many: removing stone to build a house in Leathley; taking peat from Blackhill; another without a license, removing heathland and building a wall; allowing cattle on enclosed land at Bramhope Wood Yate. Several had not used Pool corn mill. One such was “Radulpham Allen who had milled grain which he consumed in his home and sold to mills outside the manor and did not use the mills of the manor against the custom of the same manor” and paid for the grain at Arthington.” Most fines amounted to around 5s.0d.
Mills needed upkeep by the Lords of the Manor as this description in the mid 1700’s shows at the nearby Leathley mill, when owned by the Fawkes family of Farnley Hall
Pair millstones £8.8.0
Transport from Tadcaster £1.7.6d.
Masons 14s.8d. Serving masons 3s.4d.
Thatch 8s.9d.and thatching 3s.8d.
Cogs and spindles 10s.0d. Trundle heads 8s.0d.
An amalgamation of memories of Arthington mill from (1771) when run by Abraham Huddleston written c. 1840 also Darwin , son of Francis Darwin owner of Creskeld Hall, written after the building of the railway in 1843.
Full description of Arthington Mill written c. 1840 can be found in web site under “Mills”, “Pool Corn Mill” above
“Arthington Mill was a very strong built place with grey slate roof, they were very thick slates. The walls of the Mill about two feet thick. It contained two pairs of gray stones, three pairs of French stones and one pair shilling stones, one wheat screen for cleaning the wheat, one silk for making flour. The mill was three storeys high and had two water wheels; they were called undershots, the water going on at about half past four p.m.
Near to the Mill were two Fulling Mills used in making of cloth, but they had been done away with long before I knew anything about the Mills. There is only the old *fore-bay standing. (1840)
*The forebay provides storage and additional head of water. Water is released over the wheel through a gate mechanism that is controlled from the inside of the mill. Opening a second gate which releases water over the overflow chute can drain the forebay allowing maintenance of the wheel and tail race.
There was a field nearby called “Tenter Field” where cloth was stretched between poles fitted with hooks.
Darwin, son of Francis Darwin of Creskeld Hall, tells us in his recollections of the village written after the building of the railway and viaduct.
“In addition to the corn mill there was a “fulling mill” where cloth of various kinds, chiefly green, was brought from Yeadon and *Grimsby to be fulled, (i.e. washed and cleaned), the Wharfe water being then very clean and suitable for this purpose. I perfectly remember the carts and the clothiers coming down Creskeld Lane with cloth for this purpose.” * Should this be Guiseley
At Creskeld Lane end lives old James Clapham, his wife’s name was Crissy; she came to the Mill for flour, she could carry two stones on her head all the way home which she would say “that was not much.”
News cutting
“10th Sept. 1880 (news cutting) Arthington. “ Venerable Villager. Christiania Clapham familiarly known in the village as “Old Crissy” still resides in a cleanly and very neatly ordered thatched cottage on the roadside between the railway arch and Arthington. She was 90 years of age last July.” She kept a lodging house for many of the navvies during the building of the Leeds/Thirsk railway line. She would carry two stones of flour on her head from Arthington Mill to her home. She died aged 94, living in the same thatched cottage all her life.
1846. DEATH BY DROWNING Leeds Mercury 31st Jan. – About four o’clock on Friday afternoon, the 23rd inst. Wm. Dawson, the eldest son of Mr. Thomas Dawson of Pool Crookes, near Otley, farmer lost his life in the following manner. He had gone to the mill at Arthington, occupied by Messrs. Wade and Sons and while waiting for some corn being finished grinding, two excavators connected with the Leeds and Thirsk railway, called from the North side of the Wharfe for the boat to fetch them over. Although the river was much swollen, Dawson got into the boat and put off unknown to the owners, and when about half way over, the stream carried the boat on the dam stones, where it upset and he was precipitated into the water. He was carried by the stream on to a piece of ground about twenty yards from the dam stones, where he regained his feet, and stood with the water reaching only to his waist, when, unfortunately the boat drifted towards him; he endeavoured to get into it but failed, fell again into the stream and rose only once afterwards. The deceased was 21 years of age and greatly respected. The body has not yet been recovered” His body was found some days later three or four miles down the river near Harewood.
Memories of the event by Darwin: “When the boat came up again the lad was in the water. Mark called to him to stand still the water was up to the lad’s chin. The boat came near to him he tried to get a hold of it and sank before Mark could get to him and he was in the water nine weeks. He was the son of a Mr. Dawson of Pool Crooks. The lad was drowned on 23rd January 1846, aged 21 years. After this my uncle Abraham (from Arthington mill) broke the boat up for firewood. There was no boat at the Mill for a long time after that. Mark Wade was a strong well-built man and a very good swimmer. He could carry two loads of shillings one under each arm, they were 19 stones each.”
THE END OF THE MILL
Working at the mill in 1899 were Reginald Fairburn born in Fewston 21.8.1875, and his father. The family research, by Ashley Howard, grandson of Arthur Fairburn, reveals the end of Arthington Mill.
“In 1889 he was helping his father at the Arthington Mill, carrying sacks etc. when there was a bad fire at the mill and he rode on horseback six miles to fetch the Otley Fire Brigade, but they were too late, the mill burnt down.
In 1900/01 he moved to the Half Moon. He soon moved to 5, Chevin View, Pool next to the school and ran the telephone exchange. He had a bad accident with a horse and cart at the stone quarry round about 1911 when the wheels ran over him and he broke 5 ribs, pierced a lung and broke a leg, and he was left with only one lung. 1919/20 he took over a small garage down the side of the Methodist Chapel and did repairs and ran a taxi car but he ran into debt due to people not paying their bills and in 1929/30 he gave up the garage and became a chauffeur/gardener for “old man Whiteley” (William L.) of Pool Paper Mills. He was a keen gardener and won many prizes. During the war he resisted wearing a gas mask and didn’t take shelter during air raids, choosing to stand watching. He died in 1945.” His relation, James Ernest Leach, became vicar of St. Wilfrid’s, Pool-in-Wharfedale, in 1938.
Reginald came from a family of millers. His brother Arthur is recorded as a son of a miller when Christened in Pool in 1888. John and George Fairburn were both corn millers living down Waterworks Lane, Arthington. Records show that around 1900 Reginald worked for a short time at Pool corn mill. His mother was Margaret Jane Pennington. Reginald married Fanny Keighley.
Reginald and his wife, Fanny are both buried at St.Wilfrid’s, Pool-in-Wharfedale.
