Situated at the top of River Lee Country Park, Broxbourne Old Mill & Meadows combines history, conservation and leisure, all within easy reach by road and rail. The Mill that used to stand on the site was first mentioned in the Doomsday Book in 1086, not much it remains today but the mill wheel can still be seen working most weekends.
The Old Mill Retreat Café is open all year round, offering drinks, snacks and hot and cold food. If you fancy exploring the country park by bike, you can hire cycles between April - October (Wednesday to Sunday). Alternatively, you can take a trip up the river, with pedaloes, rowing boats and electric boats available for hire from the nearby Lee Valley Boat Centre. The Riverside Chalets are also available so you can stay for longer and take your time to explore the area.
If you enjoy fishing, a day ticket fishery operates during open season. Or if wildlife takes your interest, why not head down the towpath to Silvermeade where you might be lucky enough to catch site of the shy Water Vole along one of the ditches. The wet meadows are preserved for conservation interest and Water Voles can be found in and around the ditches, whilst dragonflies and damselflies hover over the meadows and reed beds during the summer months. A small section of woodland at Old Mill & Meadows also provides habitat for various garden bird species and good cover for a number of mammals such as Foxes and Muntjac Deer.
The Old Mill
The Mill was first mentioned in the Doomsday Book, 1086. The Knights of St John of Jerusalem were the first recorded owners of the mill. Under the reformation of Henry VIII in 1544, ownership was taken away from the monasteries and granted to a local miller, John Cook. The mill’s function and ownership changed repeatedly over the years. The role of the mill, up until 1892, was to grind corn into flour. Then in 1919 the restoration of the water turbine allowed the owner to produce auxiliary power. By the 1940’s the mill was used as factory storage space, but on 1st October 1949 the mill was destroyed by a fire. Present day, all that remains of the mill is the 16th century brickwork floor, and window frames of a 19th century two-storey miller's house that was restored in 1977 by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.
Broxbourne Mill is an essential part of the Borough of Broxbourne’s history. Lee Valley Regional Park Authority is carrying out projects to conserve the remains of the Mill and ensure that it continues to stand as a window into a bygone age.
Wheels in motion project
Keen to restore the Old Mill Wheel back into working order, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority commissioned Mill Green Forge from Hatfield to repair the Wheel in 2001. The wooden paddles were recycled with plastic ones, these plastic paddles not only have a much longer life than the wooden alternative, but they weigh less than their wooden counterparts, therefore less stress is placed on the original cast iron wheel, meaning it will continue to turn for longer. A 'Trash Screen' was also installed in front of the mill wheel and a new side sluice to allow sediment and excess water to pass through during periods of heavy rain.
Stand the test of time project
This is a three stage project concentrating predominantly on the historic brick work of the remaining walls of the mill.
• Stage one took eight weeks ending in April 09, this dealt with the brick work under the water line which could only be accessed from areas that were under water. To this end two temporary dams were put in place and the water pumped out to allow a survey of the Old Mill structure and repairs to the brick work. Mill Green Forge returned to undertake further repairs to the wheel and sluice gates inside the wheel house. Two cracks were found on the cast iron wheel frame, which have been reinforced. The two old Oak sluice gates in front of the mill wheel had become very rotten over the years. These have been replaced with new ones, also in Oak, which should last a good many more years.
• Stage two is completed, the Wheel House walls were surveyed and restored similar to the works that has already taken place. Cracks and crumbling brick work have developed due to the elements, vegetation and vandals. The wheel house roof, over time, developed cracks and holes. Although this was not in immediate danger, it was in a fragile state and was reinforced with wire mesh and concrete to prevent it from degrading any further.
• Stage three is to survey the rest of the walls and have the damaged brick work sensitively repaired. Finally the cog gearing, that had to be taken down in 2007 due to safety reasons, will be put back and bracketed to the wall for stability.
Directions
The nearest Postcode for this site is EN10 6LX.
Bus: 310, 311, C3
Car: Leave the A10 at the slip road for Broxbourne and exit the roundabout towards Wormley, Turnford & Broxbourne. At the next roundabout, turn left onto the A1170, High Road Turnford. Remain on the A1170 over the next two roundabouts in order to turn right at the traffic lights onto the B194, towards Broxbourne Station. Turn first right off Station Road into Churchfields. At the end of Churchfields turn left into Old Mill & Meadows.
The site has car parking and toilet facilities both of which are suitable for disabled people.
Train: The nearest train station is Broxbourne which is a 20 minute journey from London Liverpool Street. The Old Mill is a 5 minute walk from the station.