Watermills of London

Matthew Earsel, Old Mobb, Ruth Reynolds, and Edward Biggs, were all Indicted for that they, together with one James Whitney, did break the House of Joan Flanders, on the 17th of August last; Biggs confest the Indictment upon his Arraignment; but the Evidence against the rest was Mrs. Flanders, &c. who said, That they encompassed the House, being Enfield Water-Mill, and broke it open, about 10 or 11 of the Clock at Night, and took away 20l. in Money, with abundance of Plate and wearing Apparel, of very considerable value, viz. 300l. They came in and swore great Oaths that they would kill them all, if they would not shew them where the Money and Plate lay, they were forced out of Fear; and after they had got the Booty they went off; and afterwards, Earsel was found with Rings about him, in Long Acre, one of which was owned by the Prosecutor, and a Spoon and Silver Cup was found in the Hair of Reynolds; but she was Wife to one Reynolds who swore against the rest in Custody in Newgate, so she was acquitted; but Earsel and Old-Mobb were concerned in the Robbery; Earsel held their whilst the rest the House, for which he had 25l. for his share. They had little to say, especially Old Mobb, so they were both found Guilty of Felony and Burglary. ... Received Sentence of Death - Edward Biggs, Matthew Earsell, Old Mobb

WILLIAM TOMKINS. Theft; grand larceny. 4th June 1783.

WILLIAM TOMKINS was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 20th of January last, four bushels of oats, value 12s. and three bushels of peas, value 12s. the goods of George Berner : And JOHN WELLS was indicted for feloniously receiving the same goods, knowing them to have been stolen , against the form of the statute.
GEORGE BERNER sworn. I am a miller at Enfield : On the 6th of February last, in the night, the prisoner Tomkins, and the evidence Whitebread, got into my mill, went into the wheat granary of mine. ...
JOHN WITHAM sworn. I am Mr. Berner's miller, I know nothing of these sacks before the 14th of February, I never heard they were lost before. ...

WILLIAM IVES. Theft; grand larceny. 4th June 1783.

WILLIAM IVES was indicted for feloniously stealing on the 1st of March last two hempen sacks, value five shillings, and six bushels of flour, value three pounds, the property of George Berner the elder. There being no evidence but that of an accomplice, the prisoner was ACQUITTED. Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. RECORDER.

Accident at the mill: The Gentleman's magazine. Volume 59 (Part the First), 1789, p365

Saturday 4 [April] About eight in the evening the floors of Mr George's new flour-mill in South-street, Enfield, fell in from top to bottom, with a great weight of corn and flour. Fortunately the men had just been paid off before the accident happened, so that there was only one man in the mill, whose scull [sic] was laid bare. In it were 100 sacks of flour, and 80 quarters of wheat, which all fell into the water; the wheat was dried at Bruge's kiln. The joists were cut through in building; and the builder broke his heart.

This was inaccurately quoted in The history and antiquities of Enfield, in the county of Middlesex by William Robinson, 1823 which managed to give the wrong month, and omitted the reason at the end.

On the 4th of March 1789, about eight o'clock in the evening, the floors of Mr. George's new flour-mill in South-street fell in from the top to the bottom, supposed to be occasioned by the great weight of corn and flour. Fortunately the workmen had just been paid off before the accident happened, so that there was only one man in the mill, whose scull was laid bare. One hundred sacks of flour, and eighty quarters of wheat, fell into the river and were lost.

The history and antiquities of Enfield, in the county of Middlesex by William Robinson, 1823

RACES. The races, commonly called "Enfield races," formerly held in the marsh at the bottom of Green Street, were first established about the year 1788 ... In 1816 and 1817 by the exertions of the gentlemen of Tottenham and Edmonton, they were revived, and were then held in the marsh near Mr. George's mill, but were discontinued until 1819.

Stolen flour: WILLIAM PLUCK. JOHN WHITEBREAD. Theft; simple larceny (from 1827). 2nd January 1834.

WILLIAM PLUCK and JOHN WHITEBREAD were indicted for stealing, on the 12th of December, 2 sacks, value 3s.; and 10 bushels of flour, value 4l. 14s.; the goods of Joseph Farmer and another. Mr. Clarkson conducted the prosecution. JOSEPH FARMER. I am in partnership with my brother William - we rent a flour-mill of Mr. George, in the parish of Enfield. The prisoner Pluck was employed by Mr. George as watchman of his premises - there is only one entrance to the mill, which is by the lodge-gates - it is surrounded by water at all other parts - the prisoner Whitebread was under-gardener to Mr. George - on Monday, the 2nd of December, we found the mill had been entered, and two sacks of flour gone, worth 4l. 14s. - we have lost a great deal of property. ROBERT NICE. I am foreman to Messrs. Farmers. On Saturday, the 30th of November, I left the mill between six and seven o'clock in the evening - I had taken stock that day, as I do every Saturday - the property was all right then - I went again on the Monday morning, about six o'clock, and missed two sacks of flour - on the 11th of December I went with the officer to Mr. George's orchard and garden - I found part of a sack of flour buried in the orchard in a sack, and part buried in a sack in the garden - one sack was Mr. Grattan's, and one Messrs. Farmer's- on the 13th I went again with the officer and examined the granary - I found some flour in a sack buried in some oats - we then went to the coach-house, and found some flour mixed with some lime - we afterwards went to Pluck's garden, and found some flour buried in the garden, and some in a barrel - there was a sack, marked "Grattan," covered over the flour that was buried - it was in consequence of what Whitebread said on his examination, that we went and found the flour in those places - I have some of it here - it belongs to my master I believe. Cross-examined by MR. DOANE. Q. Have you compared them? A. Yes; flour is very much alike, but there is a difference between best and second flour - my employers sell a great deal in sacks. HARTNETT. I am in Mr. George's service - on the day before the prisoners were apprehended I found some chaff in the stable-bin - it was mixed with something white - I cannot say what; I saw Pluck bring it in - I told him he had put something into the oats that looked white - he said he had cut up a mouldy truss of hay. DR. CRESSWELL. I am a magistrate of this county - I took the examination and confession of the two prisoners - it was made voluntarily, and they were told it would be taken down, I signed it. JOHN MEAD. I am a constable - I took the prisoners - I found the flour in the garden, the orchard, the coach-house, and other places. The Prisoner's confessions were here read as follows. "The said J. Whitebread freely and voluntarily confesses and says, That in the evening of Sunday, the 1st of December instant, between five and seven o'clock, I went into the mill through the bake-house - I went to the first-floor and took one sack of flour; I divided it into two parts: I then took a second sack and divided it in the same way. I put the flour into four sacks, two of which were Messrs. Farmer's. I then removed the four sacks from the mill one by one into Mr. George's stable. On Monday, I heard that the two sacks of flour had been missed. On Tuesday, between three and four in the morning, I and William Pluck, the watchman, removed the flour from Mr. George's stables into his loft. On Wednesday or Thursday morning, between five and six, I and the prisoner Pluck removed the flour from the loft. I carried part of it away and buried it in Mr. George's orchard, and I wheeled another part of it away and buried it in Mr. George's garden; and the remainder of the flour I threw, part of it into the river, and stowed some away in Mr. George's granary; one half-sack I put among some lime in Mr. George's coach-house; William Pluck, the watchman, had the rest." "JOHN WHITEBREAD, X his mark." The said William Pluck says, "I am servant to Mr. George, who lives in South-street, in the parish of Enfield, close to Mr. Farmer's mill, and am employed to watch Mr. George's premises at night. Full fifteen months since, soon after I entered into Mr. George's service, John Whitebread, who lives in South-street, said to me, 'I can put you in a way to get a few shillings as the other watchman and I have done before.' Soon after this he gave me half-a-crown, which I understood to be to induce me to take no notice if I saw him fetch anything out of Mr. Farmer's mill. Between that time and the present I have seen him many times during the night leave Mr. Farmer's mill with sacks, sometimes pig's victuals, part of which he generally gave me, or the money instead of it. About 7 o'clock on the evening of Sunday se'enight I saw him fetch four lots of flour from Mr. Farmer's mill, and put them into Mr. George's stables: on the next morning there was a stir about the flour having been stolen. On the next Tuesday or Wednesday morning, before it was light, I saw John Whitebread remove some of the flour from the stable; he told me he was going to throw it into the river: he soon came back and said the flour would not sink. I then saw him remove the remainder of the flour, and take it up Mr. George's back orchard, towards the garden, where he said he would bury it in the ground. When he came to the mill for flour at night, I have sometimes seen along with him Edward Whitebread, Thomas Whitebread, and John Jackson, to whom I have seen him give what he took from the mill for them to take away, and I understand that they were in the habit of buying of him the stolen flour and offal. John Whitebread has also told me that Greenwood, who lives next door to his house, at different times has bought pig's victuals of him." "WILLIAM PLUCK, X his mark." Pluck's Defence (written)."My Lord and Gentlemen, on or about the month of June, 1832, I entered the employ of Augustin George, as private watchman and general labourer; when shortly after it was my misfortune to become acquainted with one John Whitebread , of the same employ as myself, but now a prisoner at the suit of the prosecutor, who said he would put me in the way of a few shillings, as was always the rules of the old watchman - being quite ignorant of what these rules were, I said nothing to the information - in a short time after this, I saw the said John Whitebread coming from my master's mill with three sacks - I made some inquiry about it the next morning, and found them to contain grain and flour - I made it my business of seeing him a few days after, when I candidly told him my strong suspicions, stating my being employed as watchman I must certainly acquaint my master, otherwise I should lose my employ - he talked to me on the subject, and said it was always customary with other watchmen, and that if I did not do as others did they would soon get me out of my employ."My Lord and Gentlemen, - Under the idea of losing my situation - I am extremely sorry to say that I did let this robbery continue without giving information, but it was entirely through the dread that I received from the said John Whitebread - I hope under these considerations your lordship and gentlemen will show me mercy, as I have all my lifetime got my living with honesty and sobriety - I have a wife, and seven children under fourteen years of age and entirely depending on me for their support, which I am most willing to do, and in a honest and upright manner - I am extremely sorry to say that my wife and family will be obliged to submit themselves to the parish if I am convicted - I hope your lordship and gentlemen will excuse my way of expressing myself - I hope you will leave it to my future conduct, with the assurance that I was innocently led astray." Whitebread. That statement is all wrong: I am innocent. PLUCK - GUILTY . Aged 45. WHITEBREAD - GUILTY . Aged 29. Transported for Seven Years .

For sale notice 1853: Herts Guardian - Saturday 07 May 1853

PONDERS END, on the River near Enfield, MIDDLESEX. Valuable Freehold Water Corn Mill, Called Enfield Mill, TWO CAPITAL DWELLING HOUSES, COTTAGES, AND BUILDINGS, Likewise about 70 acres of rich and Arable and valuable Building GROUND and Accommodation Land (tithe free and land-tax redeemed), also the payments the River Lea Company together of 50l per annum; likewise extensive right of fishery the River Lea; the whole producing rents amounting to 800l. per annum.
Messrs. DRIVER Have been instructed to OFFER at the Mart, London, Tuesday, May (instead of May 10, as previously advertised), at 12, in eighteen lots (unless an acceptable offer should be previously made private contract), THE above highly valuable and desirable FREEHOLD ESTATE (land tax redeemed and tithefree) most eligibly and conveniently situate at South Street, Ponder's End Village, close to and immediatly adjoining on both sides the Ponder's End Station on the Eastern Counties Railway, and only eight mijes from London. This valuable estate comprises that splendid Water Corn Mill, well known as Enfield Mill (late in the occupation of A. R. George Esq., deceased), but now in the tenure Messrs. Farmer and Young, with ample stowage and granary room, with two powerful undershot wheels, working seven pair of stones, with a most abundant supply of water: likewise an exceedingly commodious Residence. with capital walled kitchen garden and graperies, pleasure grounds, and all suitable domestic and out-door offices, carriage drive with yards in which are the coach-houses, buildings and stabling, likewise adjoining is a good family residence, the miller's house, millwright's cottage, lodge, &c, also about seventy acres of valuable and rich meadow, accommodation and building land, in the respective occupations of Messrs. Allen, Hummerston, Brading, and Hitchcock, and the whole being let to yearly tenants, whose terms expire at Michaelmas next, possession of the whole may then be had; likewise payments by the River Lea Company of 40l. and 10l. per annum; also extensive right of fishery in the River Lea; the whole producing rents amounting to 800l. per annum. The building land fronts South-street, and comprises the property situate between Ponder's End Village and the railway station, and is thus exceedingly valuable for building and accommodation purposes. It will be divided into small lots.
The property may be viewed by application to the tenants.
Printed particulars with plans may be had at Jack's Coffee-house, Mark-lane; Black Boy, Chelmsford; Ship, Tottenham; Angel, Edmonton; of J. Oxley Parker, Esq., Woodham-Mortimer Place. Maldon, Essex; of Messrs. Fisher and Lucas, solicitors, 50 Fenchurch-street; at Auction Mart; and of Messrs. Driver, Surveyors and Land Agents, 5, Whitehall, London.

[Wrights Flour] [info]

Entry in Mills Archive database - #12272 - Ponders End Mills, Enfield (has photos)

A mill at Enfield is mentioned in the Domesday book. An Act of Parliament of 1650 provided for the building of a new mill, then known as Flanders Mill; parts of this building are believed to still survive.

By the mid 19th century the mill was being run by a Mr Young, who later went into partnership with G R Wright. After Young's death the business became G R Wright and Sons. At this time the mill had two breastshot wheels and seven pairs of stones; by the early years of the 20th century, roller mills had been installed, and the mill was one of the first to adopt electricity as its power source in 1909. The mill has been successively modernised and expanded and remains a working mill under the management of the Wright family.

Watermills and Windmills of Middlesex ENFIELD
The Enfield Society Wright's flour mill
The Enfield Society Wright's flour mill
The Enfield Society Wright's flour mill
The Enfield Society Wright's flour mill
The Enfield Society Wright's flour mill, Ponders End
The Enfield Society Wrights's flour mill Postcard, inscribed "Old water mill, Ponders End"

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