Monument record 0031300000 - OXFORD ROAD (SPITAL) MILL, AYLESBURY

Dimensions - Length 0045 m Width 0010
1 OF 2 DOMESDAY MILLS ON AYLESBURY MANOR? (B1). REPAIRS TO 'SPITTLE MILL' IN C15 WHEN IT BELONGED TO EARL OF ORMOND (B8); 'SPITELL MILL' DESTROYED BEFORE 1477 (B5). RECORDS OF A MILL HERE C18-C20 (B2,B7). PRESENT BRICK BUILDING OF 1893 & 1897 (DATE PLAQUES) (HISTORICAL SURVEYS)(B9,B12). BURNT DOWN OCT 1993 & REMAINS SUBSEQUENTLY DEMOLISHED (B10). BLACK & WHITE PRINTS TAKEN BY MIKE FARLEY PRIOR TO SITE CLEARANCE JULY/ AUGUST 1996. ENGINE HOUSE LEFT (B11). HISTORICAL SURVEY/ARCHAEOLOGICAL APPRAISAL 1997 (B12). Evaluation trenching and subsequent excavation carried out between January and April 1998 by Hertfordshire Archaeological Trust in advance of redevelopment, revealed a sequence of mill buildings from the 17th century onwards. Residual medieval pottery, a 14th century channel and make-up layers suggest that the medieval mill lay in the immediate vicinity although no trace of medieval buildings were located, suggesting either that the medieval building had been destroyed by later rebuilding or by decontamination works, that the post-medieval buildings were relocated or that medieval remains lay at a greater depth than excavated. An extensive deposit of sheep foot bones within an alluvium deposit probably dating to the 17th century indicates tanning or tawing taking place in the vicinity, possibly associated with a small building to the south of the mill. Fragments of a late 19th or early 20th century 10 foot cast iron waterwheel were recovered from the wheel pit during excavation. Appart from the millwheel fragments, millstones and assorted fragments of building materials and fittings, most of the finds are of a domestic nature (B13-15).
Detailed historical notes and 1930s condition. Varying conditions in 2006 (B16)