19th century former steam mill (now house), 'King's Mill', on the site of a medieval and post-medieval watermill, London Road and on the River Cam (EHER 15065)

A late 19th century steam mill which was built in three phases between 1845-1897. It is a brick-built, 12 bay, four storey steam (roller) mill and has been altered for its conversion to residential use. The mill was built on the site of an 18th century corn and watermill depicted on the 1777 Chapman and Andre map. Both the 19th and 18th century mills were probably built on the site of one of the two watermills recorded in Great Chesterford in the 13th century.

There are two watermills recorded in Great Chesterford in the 13th century, one of which belonged to the Marshaless of England. Later in the 15th and 16th century, a fulling-mill is recorded close to the river in South Street (EHER 83334). The Newmarket Road mill (this record, King's Mill) is probably located on the site of at least one of the medieval mills recorded in the 13th century. It is depicted on the 1777 Chapman and Andre map and described as a corn mill. In this map, the mill pond appears to have been largely back-filled. A steam-powered flour mill was erected in the late 19th century. The Mill House (EHER 25382) is early 19th century in date. <1> 1971. Field survey. Former steam-powered flour mill lying near the site of an earlier water mill (River Cam or Granta). <2> Unusually tall and extensive steam mill near the site of a former watermill. It is basically two joined blocks, one of red brick, the other of grey brick, 4 storeys with flat buttresses forming vertical division between the symmetrical lines of windows. The whole is late Victorian and not dissimilar to the flooring blocks of the maltings at Mistley. A smaller building on the south side was perhaps an engine and boiler house, but the chimney has been removed. <3> February 2007. Field survey. A later 19th century, 12 bay, four storey steam (roller) mill built in three main structural phases between 1845-1850 (concurrent with the opening of the London to Cambridge Railway) and by 1897. Henry King appears in the census records of 1871 as a miller and farmer in Great Chesterford and in the 1901 census, but does not appear in contemporary editions of Kelly's Trade Directory. Henry King may have also worked another mill in the area as the watermill in the nearby village of Littlebury was and still is named Kings Mill. The earliest phase comprises the central six bays, built in red brick in English bond, characterised by the rough brick segmental arch heads and the retention of its gable parapets which project (as fire walls) above the later roofs to either side. The mill was subsequently extended (probably by Henry King) with the addition of a large 4½ storey yellow brick 3 x 7 bay gable ended return range onto its southern end and an in-line four storey, three bay red brick extension to the north. It is built consistently in pier and panel construction, with external strip pilasters punctuated by tie bars laterally bracing each floor. The smaller upper windows of all three phases have saw tooth decoration but generally little ornamentation is used. Both weatherboarded lucams are supported on plain geometric cast-iron brackets and were probably contemporary with the later yellow brick range. The present lucams however may be replicas of the originals. As part of the mill's conversion to residential use, the taking doors below both lucams have either been converted to windows or blocked. The windows all have code stone sills and are modern side-hung timber casements with glazing bars. Small porches have been added over the doorways. The mill leat to the east and the tail race have both been backfilled. Kings Mill is one of 27 extant steam mills that survive across Essex and one of five identified in Uttlesford. Attached to the mill to the south lies a small single storey five bay yellow brick steam engine or boiler house converted to residential use. It is on an 'L-shaped' plan. To the north-west is a three storey earlier 19th century seven bay red brick granary (EHER 83333). The listed 18th century Mill Cottage (EHER 25384) lies at roadside to the north while a slightly later 19th century Mill House (EHER 25382) is adjacent to the north and east. Internal access to neither the mill nor the granary was not available. Present Use: Residential Condition: Good. <3>