Alnham : Farm Mills

The larger and more important of these farms were provided with their own water mills during the 19th century to power various agricultural activities, such as threshing and grinding of corn. These appear to have replaced the old mill at Hazeltonrig. The latter is still labelled Alnham Mill' on the plans surveyed by John Bell in 1809, but is referred to as 'Old Mill' on Fryer's map of Northumberland in 1820. The new mills are catalogued below:

Site Name: Castle Farm, Alnham

• Grid Reference:  NT995108
• First recorded 1845
• Last recorded 1890

The tithe map (1845) and early Ordnance Survey maps of the area clearly show a mill dam behind the buildings of Castle Farm in Alnham. It seems that the race must have been culverted and there is no direct evidence of which building housed what is presumed to have been a farm mill by this date at least.

Site Name: Prendwick Farm

• Grid Reference:  NU002123
• First recorded 1860
• Last recorded 1890

Once again the evidence for this farm mill comes from early Ordnance Survey maps of the area.  A long "Mill Lead" leads to a small dam which is still shown as an open area in a small plantation.

Site Name: Scrainwood Farm

• Grid Reference:  NT991095
• First recorded 1860
• Last recorded 1920s

While shown on the 1860s Ordnance Survey a small dam and aqueduct taking water to a farm mill are more clearly shown in the 1890s and 1920s editions.

Picture : Mill Leet At Alnham