The remnants of New Mills - complete with ancient pond and mill rush - occupies a weird position, tucked away incongruously between the ancient town ramparts and the traffic of the bypass. I remember coming upon it years ago, having crossed over the footbridge from the Beeches Estate, wondering where on earth I was! I was spooked by the dilapidated buildings, and heartily relieved to get my bearings so that I could head for home... ..
St. Mary's Mills, later known as New Mills, were built by the last Abbot of Cirencester, John Blake on the eve of the Dissolution. Leland, visiting Cirencester in about 1540, describes a "right goodly Clothing Mill" and mentions an old tower (presumably part of the Roman fortifications) which supplied building material for the walls. New Mills are the first documented fulling mills in Cirencester, though a fulling mill existed in Temple Guiting as early as the 12th century. Three stocks of wooden feet were raised and dropped alternatively by a wheel driven by water from the River Churn. The Mills also included a gig mill which raised the nap on the cloth after the fulling process.
The mills were in use until the early 20th century, latterly, for many years, as a flock mill.
According to Mills & Milling in Gloucestershire:
St Mary's / New Mill: 4-Fulling mills, after 1563; 3 Fulling mills and 1 corn mill in 1585; 2 corn/2 fulling in 1622. Textiles from 1700 to c1840.
From the new VCH:
British Listed Buildings - The Old Mill House, Beeches Road
Today, in the quiet of lockdown, the area is once again disconcerting. There are strange little woodland paths between City Bank and the dual carriageway, with this odd gate all by itself leading nowhere...
