BACKGROUND (Details courtesy of Jackie Thorburn)

1380: The Hatfield Survey confirmed that there was a corn mill at Evenwood.

1647: The Manor of Evenwood had 5 mills

1658: George Vickers of Hamsterley leased Evenwood Mill

1670’s: There were access disputes concerning, “bringing of milestones through ye grounds of George Viccars to ye Lows Mill called Eavenwood Mill”.

1711 – 1714: William Stephenson paid an annual rent of £1 6 shillings.

1725: Gertrude Langstaffe, 60 years old, claimed that she and her sister had, “followed the business or employment of common millers for public sale and grinded all their oats which they made into oatmeal sometimes at West Auckland Corn Mill and at other times at Evenwood Mill”.

1763 (about): John Buck of West Auckland owned the mill.

1789: Owner, John Palmerly, miller of Mill Wynd, Staindrop leased the mill to Charles Bowser, followed by Ralph Vart of Greenfield, Etherley. When John Palmerly died, the ownership passed to his son William.

THE VART FAMILY

1844 (about): William Palmerley sold the mill to John Vart. Thereafter John and his wife Margaret (nee Wigham) redeveloped the mill. Buildings were demolished and a larger water wheel was installed. The mill race was controlled by sluices which ran from the weir near Craggwood. The mill building was set into the hillside so that a 12 ft. bank was formed at the back from whence the water fell onto the 16 ft. overshot wheel set into a pit. The mill drove 3 sets of stones.

1853: Margaret Vart died.

1857: John Vart was one of the Guardians for the Poor Law.

1871: John Vart died.

Three of John and Margaret’s sons were millers:

John at Holebeck Mill, Wolsingham

Jacob & Joseph, in partnership, at Holm Mill, Spring Gardens and West Auckland. The brothers converted both into steam powered roller mills. Spring Gardens mill ceased milling in the 1940’s.

Annie, John Vart’s unmarried daughter took over Evenwood mill with the help of her nephew George Young.

1881: There was no miller on site. Thus milling ended after 500 years.

1904: Annie Vart died.

1953 (about): The mill was demolished, followed by the miller’s house.

1823: Detail from the submitted Quarter Session Deposited Map to show the amended route of the Haggerleases Line. It clearly shows Evenwood Mill.

Below: about 1895, Annie Vart seated 3rd from the right

Below: 2 images of the mill in its heyday

Below: A map to show Evenwood Mill

EVENWOOD MILL: Selected census records

1851: JOHN VART

1881: ANNIE VART

1891: ANNIE VART

1901: ANNIE VART

Below: A view of Mill Cottages in a derelict state.

Below: 3 photos of Mill Cottages

Below: about 1965, 3 photos of Mill House

Below: possibly about 1965 photos of the back of Mill House, where the mill was situated in a state of dereliction

Below: Moving onto a different topic, but still related to the area known as the Mill:

Here’s 2 articles dated June 1963 and February 1966 which refer to the ford over the River Gaunless. Apparently, a 4 foot hole appeared, it needed to be repaired. Some residents were cut off – Mr. Arthur Firbank, Mr. Dick Brown and Mr. Harold Wilkinson. It looks like they managed to salvage a bridge from the railway company and put it up themselves.

Below: Here’s a map dated about 1920. The mill looks as though it has been demolished. The miller’s house is clearly standing. It shows the ford, the footbridge and the 2 houses over the other side of the river.

Below: A view to the north of the Mill and over the river, beyond Mill Cottages (north) and to Railwayside. Originally a railway property, then a farm building used by Mr. Wilkinson at Haggerleases Farm to the east, it has been demolished and a new dwelling has been built on the site.

Below: The river in flood under the footbridge.

Below: 2008, Refurbished Mill Cottages