The following is an
extract
from a book entitled 'Campton - A Study of Bedfordshire Village'
by D.J.Cadman.
'A village mill has existed on our river since Anglo Saxon times
and is mentioned in the Doomesday Book. Its exact position has
not been located but a likely sire is upstream and near the Gravenhurst
Road. For many centuries it played an important part in the life
of our villagers for they were not permitted to grind their own corn in
hand operated querns. The tolls collected by the miller were
important supplements to the manorial income.
Since these earlier references there is no documentary evidence of a
mill on the present site or elsewhere until the beginning of the
nineteenth century when a 'Survey of Highways' was published.
Here it was recorded that in 1808 "William Squire had erected a mill
for the Osbourn family and he had excaavated a cut to divert the river
water into the mill pond". It was an undershot type and the water
turned two large wooden wheels.
In 1860 the mill was purchased by the Gudgins - a well known local
farming family. In the latter part of its working life a coal
fired steam engine was installed and this enabled the mill to keep
working in times of drought.
In 1914 it ceased to make flour for human consumption but continued to
mill provinder. It ceased working in 1937.
It was then purchased by Mr. Boston who lived in the Mill house and
farmed some adjacent land. Latterly, it came into the possession
of the owners of Woodhall Farm. In recent years it was without
tenants and fell into disrepair. At a later date it was purchased
by a local builder, Mr. M. Spavins, who completely rebuilt the who;e
structure and turned it into a pleasant country house.'
