There was probably a corn mill on site originally but by
the 17th century this was converted into a furnace site
which smelted iron in charcoal-fired furnaces and then
worked into wrought iron until 1765. The furnace was
probably situated in the area of the present car park and
cottages.
The next phase in the development of the site came in 1767 when William Wyatt, an engineer from the Burtonon-Trent, took out a patent for a screw cutting machine. The wheel was fed through an iron pipe which ran under the road, bringing water from the mill ponds which were situated opposite. The actual date of construction is unclear but in 1783 it was operated by Shorthose, Wood and company listed as screwmakers, which initially made unpointed wood screws. The mill employed 59 people, of whom many were children and they made on average 1200 gross of screws per week by means of 36 engines or lathes which were turned by one waterwheel. The mill continued to thrive until changing technology and in 1844 the company went bankrupt and later the building was then used for corn milling, then as a saw mill and fi nally as a malting, until about 1945 when a dispute over water rights stops its supply and the mill subsequently became derelict.
In 1987 it was totally refurbished and converted into a public house. During this work the 23ft diameter by 4ft wide iron wheel was completely restored. It now turns slowly in its original location, powered by recirculated water, and is an attractive feature of the bar and restaurant.
The next phase in the development of the site came in 1767 when William Wyatt, an engineer from the Burtonon-Trent, took out a patent for a screw cutting machine. The wheel was fed through an iron pipe which ran under the road, bringing water from the mill ponds which were situated opposite. The actual date of construction is unclear but in 1783 it was operated by Shorthose, Wood and company listed as screwmakers, which initially made unpointed wood screws. The mill employed 59 people, of whom many were children and they made on average 1200 gross of screws per week by means of 36 engines or lathes which were turned by one waterwheel. The mill continued to thrive until changing technology and in 1844 the company went bankrupt and later the building was then used for corn milling, then as a saw mill and fi nally as a malting, until about 1945 when a dispute over water rights stops its supply and the mill subsequently became derelict.
In 1987 it was totally refurbished and converted into a public house. During this work the 23ft diameter by 4ft wide iron wheel was completely restored. It now turns slowly in its original location, powered by recirculated water, and is an attractive feature of the bar and restaurant.
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