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Sandpit Mill

Broadwindsor

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Sandpit Mill, Broadwindsor History of mill (and company if relevant) 1275 Within the Manor ofIvo de Sanputee houses and fields of tenants (named are

given: ½ acre of Flaxlande between lands of Herbert and he lands of Roger Cuttpurs1

There have been three mills at Sandpit, one was operational for 1530, after falling in to ruin it was re-built in 1680 and in turn this was replaced in 1828 by John Studley with a three storey building with a thatched roof complete with belfry2.

1533 Flax was ordered to be grown by statute3, mill already in production4

(doubtful because flax mills did not go into use until late in the 18th century). 1539 Agnes Studley’s will. This mill went to ruin and was replaced by two others

and a house in the 1680s5 Mr Patrick Lewis, in a very painstakingly researched work on Sandpit, found that a Flax Mill may have been in existence there by 1530, so that, when flax was ordered to be grown in England in 1539 this mill was already in operation. It was then owned by John Stodelegh, and continued in the possession of members of the same family. In 1828 John Studley rebuilt the new mill on the site of the old one. By 1903 the mills at Sandpit and Broadwindsor ear marked on the map as ‘disused’, and Sandpit mill was sold in 1911 by Mr ‘Willie’ Studley to J B Hicks and Salter and Stokes who used it as a butter factory and milk collection depot. (DH Salter and Stokes had the milk factory at Chard Junction, Thorncombe)6. (There are further details of this works in the research section of the museum in the Broadwindsor file) The Studley family claim that sold in manor of Broadwindsor sale in 1590 as Sandpit flax mill7. As flax spinning mills and flax mills for the various process did not occur until the late 18th century it seems unlikely. It was probably a grist mill Sandpit Mill may have been the mill mentioned in the Domesday Book. In a Deed of Grant from 1275 within the manor of Ivo de Sanputee (Sandpit) reference is made to a half acre field called 'Flexlaunde', the earliest record of flax being grown in the area. Including the Domesday mill there have been at least four different mills at Sandpit over time. 1530 One was operational in 1530 and unlikely to be from the 11th century). 1591 Hundred and Manor of Broadwindsor sold with two mills at Yarnbarton and

Sandpit8. 16th century Sandpit Mill into ruin9.

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1680s After falling into ruin in it was rebuilt with a cottage occupied by William Penny and a second mill at Newmeades10 (perhaps it was also owned by William Penny).

It seem unlikely that there was a flax mill here before the late 18th century because the first process to be mechanised was spinning by Arkwright in 1764 also his carding engine in 1775. 1689 John Collington in trouble with Manor Court for ‘not keeping the river in its rite course being hurtful to the highway’. He was the occupier11, the owners being the Cole family until about 1796. 1698 John Collingtom again in trouble for ‘not keeping the water in its due current from Broadwindsor to Sanpit Mill’12. 1710 Thomas Scursage ’for not keeping the path in repair betwixt Sampit mill and Brackham House, being a church path’13. 1828 The mill was replaced in 1828 by John Studely with a 3-storey thatched mill with

a belfry. He also built accommodation at Sandpit for his workers. 1841 In the 1841 census 17 residents of Sandpit worked at the mill, but then trade

declined and by 1901, the year it closed, and only two residents were employed. The Hunt family (later of mechanical bent in Beaminster) lived in one of the cottages, Edward, in his 50s was a flax spinner. His sins, John and joseph were also flax spinners probably working in the mill as well14.

1933 The old mill again fell into disuse and was demolished on 1933, four hundred

years after the first mill on that site. The stone was sold and used to build the house

Sandpit and Yarn Barton had the same ownerships for centuries. Both initially produced sailcloth from handlooms and the latter later converted to steam-powered machinery. Yarn Barton had extensive areas for drying the sailcloth. Flax and twine spinners also worked at Sandpit, perhaps supplying them for sailcloth making at Yarn Barton which closed around 1900. Sandpit is now an industrial site whilst Yarn Barton is a residential development15. ‘Millstones’ at Netherbury, and the belfry is now on a stable in Compton Durville, in Somerset16. This mill could have been a flax spinning mill feeding the Yarn Barton Sailcloth manufacture at Yarn Barton in Broadwindsor. There is some confusion because Leonard Studley sometimes refers to the ‘old’ mill, presumably Sandpits17. The Sailcloth Factory. The land in and around Broadwindsor was deemed to be some of the best for miles around for flax growing and in the 19th Century there were three sailcloth factories operating in this district. One was situated at nearby Greenham, another at Sandpitt [sic], and the third at Yarn Barton in the village. There was no water power at Yarn Barton so all work was carried out on hand looms. About 30-40 hands were employed at the village factory working a 58 hour week, for which men received 3/6d, and women 2/6d a week {When?] Mr. Joseph Studley, who lived in the Manor House, owned the Yarn Barton factory, which closed sometime in the early

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1900s, while the one at Sandpit operated for many more years, and was eventually used as a butter factory. The big water wheel, already there, provided the power to churn and work the butter18. 1809 OS map

1917 Sale of Yarn Barton, Broadwindsor comprising a rich accommodation, meadow

of 51/4 acres and large factory etc. Sold to W C Studley for £460. Sandpit Butter Factory withdrawn.19

The old building was demolished c192920, c193321. 1972-3 Notes on 8 houses in Sandpit: Sandpit Old Farm, with sale particulars of Old

Sandpitts 1972; Blagdon Farm, Sandpit, Sandpit Mill Farm, Fernside and Rose Cottage, Lower Sandpit Farm with sale particulars 197322

Location(s) Sandpits is off the road between Broadwindsor and Birdsmoorgate on the left’. Now Sandpits Farm (see map below) Owners (names, addresses, family members) 1530 John Stodelegh 1828 John Studley 1689 Cole family until about 1796, occupier John Collington23. 1698 Occupier still John Collington24. 1710 occupoier appears to be John Scursage25. 1788 Owners still the Coke family. 1796 Mr Perkin purchased Sandpit Mill26. 1843 John Studley owner and occupier: factory cottage and garden (Lot 685)27

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1851 John Studley Manufacturer Sailcloth, Merchant, Proprietor, farming 350 Acres285

1851 Tenants were Robert Hann aged 38 handloom weaver of sailcloth + wife= 3 children12

1871 Joseph Studley Owner 310 Acres and Manufacturer29 1903 Identified as disused. 1911 Sold by ‘Willie’ Studley to J B Hicks and Salter (Chard) as a butter and milk

collection depot.

Suppliers Processes Sailcoth: Broadwindsor had several mills … and the Stoodley family running two mills that produced sailcloth at Sandpits and Broadwindsor30. Power sources Probably water wheel 15hp2

Map of leat

The complex of the stream, ponds and leat seem to be quite complicated. The smaller stream seems to be a man-made channel to supplement the larger stream. The stream is not very large, so storage ponds were necessary with sluice controlled overflows back to the stream (which may also have been altered). The stream eventually flows into the River Axe at Netherhay.

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1888 OS map showing leat and ponds. Products Sailcloth, but may have been spinning factory for Yarn Barton at Broadwindsor Employees (numbers, skills, names) 1838. Both mills in Broadwindsor;

1 male and 3 females between 13 and 14; 1 male and 3 females between14 and 15; 2 females between 15 and 16; 2 females between 17 and 18; 2 females between 18 and 19; 2 females between 19 and 20; 2 males and 15 females under 21; 2 males and 8 females over 21. Totals 4 males and 23 females. Both mills employed 27 people altogether, so possibly about 12 here31.

1851. 30 men, 30 women, 5 boys (probably both mills at Broadwindsor) In summary 1851 Netherhay 5 female flax spinners. 22 living in Drimpton - 10 flax spinners, 7 flax dressers, 4 Flax workers in factory/mill, 1 handloom weaver canvas. The rest (65 people) appear to be living in the village, e.g. Chapel Street, Mill Lane, Fore Street, High Street etc. and are flax spinners, sailcloth weavers (handloom), yarn spoolers, flax hacklers and bleachers etc32.

Workers categories (maximum numbers between 1851 and 1901): male engineer/mechanic (1,handloom weaver (1), machine-maker (2) flax manufacturer (3), sailcloth weaver (2); female flax liner (1) , flax river (1) flax spinner (5), flax spreader (2), flax manufacture (2), manufacturer linen (3) , sailcloth weaver (1).. 1871 2 in Sandpit33, 1871 A total of 75 workers. 8 living in Netherhay, 2 in Sandpit, 4 in Greenham, 26 in

Drimpton. The rest apparently in the village as above34.

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1891 3 in Sandpit (2 sailcloth weavers, 1 flax spinner)35

1891 A total of 43 people. 1 in Netherhay (twine factory mechanic), 3 in Sandpit (2

sailcloth weavers, 1 flax spinner), 1 in Greenham (flax factory spinner), 16 in Drimpton (flax spinners, reelers, yarn bundlers, hecklers. Also mention of "factory flax and tow", turner in twine factory). William Goolden is "Sailcloth and twine manuacturer" living in Hayes.The remaining 9 are in the village and talk of flax yarn, sailcloth, canvas etc36.

1911 A total of 17 people. 3 in the village (sailcloth factory, oiler in flax mill, braiding fishing nets at home). 1 in Netherhay (twine factory mechanic). 1 in Greenham (flax factory spinner. 12 in Drimpton (Factory flax and tow, reelers, spinners, drawing, labourers etc)37.

See next page for details from factory inspector’s information in 1838.

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Age ranges employed in mills 1838

NetherburyBeaminsterHookeBroadwindsor

Data from Factory Inspectors data38

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Customers Photographs

Wall at back of picture is original wall from the mill Photograph by Marcus Chambers 2013

Sandpit Farm, originally the manager’s house at Sandpit Photograph by Marcus Chambers 2013

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Sandpit mill39

Court and Tower Hill cottages, Netherbury, built with stone from Sandpit mill (demolished 1933)40. Photograph by Marcus Chambers

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References 1 Celia Carmichael notes and extracts from John Lewis book (details in Netherbury

files in research section of Museum). 2 Beaminster Museum publication Hanging by a Thread Our Flax and Hemp

Heritage Pg.43. 3 Lewis P A (1975) History of Sandpit, Dorchester History Centre, rare book

942.331, Pg.46. 4 Celia Carmichael 5 Celia Carmichael 6 Leonard Studley My Story (p 94-98). 7 Celia Carmichael 8 Lewis P A (1975) Pg. 146. 9 Lewis P A (1975) Pg. 148. 10 Lewis P A (1975) Pg. 148. 11 Lewis P A (1975) Pg. 148. 12 Lewis P A (1975) Pg. 148. 13 Lewis P A Pg 149. 14 1841 census. 15 Email from Marcus 29/08/13: Patrick Lewis's book as passed on by Celia

Carmichael. 16 Lewis P A (1975) Pg. 46. 17 Lewis P A (1975) Pg. 46 18 Studley, Olive (1984), “History of Broadwindsor”, Broadwindsor W I. 19 Bridport News 6 July 1917. 20 Pastor, Andrew (2007) Village Voices: Farming Village Voices, Pg 40. 21 Lewis P A (1975) 22 Dorset History Centre reference D-626/10. 23 Lewis P A (1975) Pg. 148. 24 Lewis P A (1975) Pg. 148. 25 Lewis P A (1975) Pg. 149. 26 Lewis P A (1975) Pg. 152. 27 Tithe map apportionment, copy on museum computer, Dorset History Centre file,

(also available on Ancestry). 28 1851 Census. 29 1871 Census 30 Martin, Celia (2003) The Bridport Trade. Rope, and Net: Hemp and Flax.

Bridport, The Constandros Press. Pg 56. 31 House of Commons Parliamentary Papers On-line, 1839(41). Return of Mill and

Factories which have neglected to transmit Returns to Inspectors, 1837-38: Number of Persons employed in Cotton, Woollen, Worsted, Flax and Silk Factories of United Kingdom Pg 176-179.

32 1851 Census 33 1871 census 34 1871 census 35 1891 census. 36 Dorset History Centre reference D-626/10. 37 1911 census. 38 Studley, Olive (1984) 39 Leonard Studley My Story (Pg. 207).

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40 Photographs and information from Marcus Chambers 16/09/13. Duncan Harris (January 2020) I wish to thank many people from the museum and the parish who have provided the information for this document.