Site of Much Mill watermill, Writtle (EHER 80765)

An 18th century watermill that has since been destroyed and the exact location in unknown.

2019. Heritage report. The third Writtle mill is shown on the 1777 and 1805 maps. It was named Much Mill (Mochel Mill in old English which indicated it as being an old building). It was used for grinding corn as late as 1868, and also for leather and chamois preparation by splitting sheep skins cured in oil. Hence its name of “Oil mill” or “Skin mill”. The mill also contained two steam engines but the processes are not known. It was located on the river Can, downstream of the confluence of the Can and Wid. at Rainsford End and stood across the river at the bottom of Beaches Drive. This area was once part of Writtle and the mill was occupied by William Johns, a leather dresser. It consisted of a water mill and dwelling house under one roof, with a wool warehouse and a store for drying leather adjoining. In 1859 William Beach took it over and it was highly developed business. However in 1870, after a fire in the oil mill part, it burnt down. Some 60-80 men and boys were employed there at the time - a sizeable business. After the fire W. Beach and Son continued as leather and glue manufacturers, with a coal merchant's business, until 1901, when William died. Beaches & Co then turned to brick making until the Second World War. The three-arched bridge is all that now remains. <1>