Cogglesford Mill

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File:Cogglesford water Mill - geograph.org.uk - 186538.jpg
Cogglesford Mill, 2002
Weir in place of the upper doors of the lock. This weir has a levelling mechanism attached, rather like a tilting weir. We see the dark frames of the weir, wet on a winter's day, with the water cascading over toward us in a smooth cataract, no turbulence or disturbance. The surface of the mill pond beyond is placid. The air is misty and the surrounding trees are white with hoar-frost, which also rimes the edges of the frame of the weir, melted only where the water has splashed.
Weir at Cogglesford Mill

Cogglesford Mill[1] (sometimes referred to as Coggesford[2]) is a Grade II listed working watermill in Sleaford, Lincolnshire. It is possibly the last working Sheriff's Mill in England.[3] The mill sits to the north of Sleaford on banks of River Slea. There is archaeological evidence of a Saxon mill on the site and records in the Domesday book of later mills; the present redbrick structure dates to the late 18th century, with alterations from the 19th Century.[1]

The ford from which the mill takes its name is where the Roman road now called Mareham Lane crossed the Slea. The original crossing, no longer extant, is a few hundred yards downstream of the mill, close to the current footbridge.

There were many other mills along the river at various times. During the construction of the Sleaford Navigation, in the 1790s, locks were provided at each of the mills to maintain the necessary head. After the navigation closed and as the locks fell into repair they were replaced by weirs, and the weir at Cogglesford is particularly elaborate, having to maintain the head of this still working mill.

Cogglesford mill (including the mill race and bridge) was assigned a listed status on 20 July 1973.[1] The mill is open to the public 7 days a week during the summer and Organic stoneground flour is milled there and sold in shop.

Gallery

The Mill pond
The Mill pond 
General view of the mill from upstream, with the small millpool formed by the river above the sluice.
General view of the mill from upstream, with the small millpool formed by the river above the sluice. 
Close view of the south side of the building. A small eliptical brick arch leads the water into the enclosed millrace, and there is an overflow weir to the right of the building. Trees are visible on the riverbank beyond. The water is constrained in a red brick channel with a bulnose (curved) corner. Two scroll shaped iron 'plates' are on the upper wall, terminals for tie-rods that pass through the building. This is a winter view, and the state of the trees makes this stark. There is a small and unturbulent flow of water through the overflow weir, because the level is accurately controlled by the main weir in the old lock chamber. A precarious plank bridge, with no handrails, crosses the overflow race to reach the lockside on the right.
View of the entrance to the enclosed race, with the overflow weir alongside. 
View downstream of the lock chamber build for the Sleaford Navigation, to maintain the head at the mill. The chamber is largely brick built with stone details for load-bearing parts, and the brick is coloured with moss and lichen. A little desultory grass covers the top sides. There are no lower gates, the lock having been converted into a weir many years ago. A cheap iron railing fence, painted black recently, delineates the property associated with the mill and restaurant to the left. This is a winter view and many bare trees line the banks downstream. The trunks of the nearest can be clearly seen to be covered in ivy. The water looks clear and placid.
Remains of the lock constructed for the Navigation of the river. 
The mill in November 2010
The mill in November 2010 
A view of the great spur wheel and stones.
A view of the great spur wheel and stones. 
The Pit wheel and wallower
The Pit wheel and wallower 
The Sack hoist
The Sack hoist 

References

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  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Further reading

External links

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