Bradfield Hall Steam Mill (EHER 40673)

A mid 19th century steam mill. This is an interesting relic, as one of the few steam mills built in the 1850s on sites not traditionally associated with milling. Bradfield Hall Steam Mill is situated to the SE of the former industrial settlement and quay at Mistley, to the north of its namesake Bradfield Hall and immediately east of the abandoned branch line (1863-1869) that once ran between Mistley, Thorpe and Walton. The mill was presumably built by Bradfield Hall, who had already invested in a planned farm to capitalise on the buoyant agrarian economy of the ‘Golden Age’ and continued in the same vein with a new steam mill to take advantage of grain prices and the newly built rail link to Mistley and the coastal ports. The former steam mill had remained in use, not as a mill but as part of Bradfield Hall Farm, until quite recently, however, a catastrophic fire during the 1980s-early 1990s (according to personal communication) destroyed most of the building leaving only the eastern and part of the northern end wall intact. The mill was rebuilt, retaining the surviving walls and was converted for use as a domestic dwelling, which it remains to this day.

This is an interesting relic, as one of the few steam mills built in the 1850s on sites not traditionally associated with milling. What is particularly rare is that there was, at the time of its construction, no railway within two miles, although part of the aborted Mistley-Thorpe-Walton railway line ran within a few yards of the mill. Failure of the railway no doubt contributed to the early closure of the mill. The most interesting features are the semi-circular headed cast-iron framed windows and the renaming of the nearby road through Bradfield Heath to Steam Mill Road. Trade directory evidence suggests that the mill was built between 1855 and 1859. Bradfield Hall Steam Mill is situated to the SE of the former industrial settlement and quay at Mistley, to the north of its namesake Bradfield Hall and immediately east of the abandoned branch line (1863-1869) that once ran between Mistley, Thorpe and Walton. The mill was presumably built by Bradfield Hall, who had already invested in a planned farm to capitalise on the buoyant agrarian economy of the ‘Golden Age’ and continued in the same vein with a new steam mill to take advantage of grain prices and the newly built rail link to Mistley and the coastal ports. The lines closure must have had serious implications for validity of this business and ultimately following a depression in agriculture by the late 19th century, its closure. The former steam mill had remained in use, not as a mill but as part of Bradfield Hall Farm, until quite recently, however, a catastrophic fire during the 1980s-early 1990s (according to personal communication) destroyed most of the building leaving only the eastern and part of the northern end wall intact. The mill was rebuilt, retaining the surviving walls and was converted for use as a domestic dwelling, which it remains to this day. As part of this conversion the western half of the mill was completely rebuilt, the roof re-pitched and a small ‘kiln like’ brick built extension added to the north. The original elevations are built over two storeys, five bays and in red brick (Flemish bond) with yellow brick dressings around apertures and as quoins. The windows all have half-round gauge brick arch heads with brick keystones and are much taller at ground floor than at first floor. The iron windows, typical of industrial buildings of this period and mentioned by Booker (above) were removed post fire and have been replaced by modern timber casements. A blocked taking-in door remains visible in the northern end wall. No internal structural or technological features, fixtures or fittings remain. Current Use: Residential Condition: Good <1>