WORKING NOTES FOR  Chaffeigh & Shedrick Mills  RUINS WALK

documentary historical EVIDENCE

Blind Lane  (OS ref: ST375037)

1809 OS map

Road leading directly  to Shedrick Mill via Chitmoor Farm  from Thorncombe village starting  from Blind Lane is  marked  on 1809 OS map.

Charter: 6 April 1549

An agreement between John Baten of Beaminster and John Chydley relating to land  along the River  Synderford.  ‘ Le More’  can be indentified using Tithe Map for names. Also mentions Blind Lane belonging to the Earl of Oxford and Thomas Bragge

Source: Somerset & Dorset Notes & Queries , Thorncombe Thorn, 1935,  Vol XI,  pp. 243-245,

Edward de Vere, 17^th Earl of Oxford (1550-1604)  is thought by some academics to  be have been Shakespeare. De Vere  was granted Thorncombe Manor by Henry VIII  in 1544 as part of Forde Abbey estate following  its dissolution. He  sold it to Matthew Bragge & John Freke in 1577.  Matthew Bragge sold it to William Bragge in 1597.  Matthew Bragge (Chaffeigh dynasty) William Bragge (Sadborow dynasty).

Source: http://www.google.com/search?q=Thorncombe&sa=Google+Search&sitesearch=www.oxford-shakespeare.com

Boundary hedge

Hedge dating using Hooper’s Law,  i.e evidence of large coppiced  crowns;  one species from list = 100 years … suggests  Blind Lane  is at least  500 years old , supported by English Heritage listing i.e  listed monument identified as a Medieval Drove Road 1066-1539 and 1549 Charter .

Sources:

1. Rackham, O. (2002), The History of the Countryside …, London, Phoenix Press, pp. 194-197

2.http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MDO2696&resourceID=1012

Chitmoor Farm (OS ref: 377039)

1806, 1809, 1884-87 OS maps, 1839 tithe  map; 1841  census

1841 Census lists William Clarke aged 42 (born in Thorncombe) his wife Ann (40) also born Thorncombe, & their five children aged 2 to 15.

Chaffeigh Mill  (os  ref : st379044)

Thorncombe industrial village, will etc show there was a community of weavers here since 17^th century. Many  were Quakers. Site of meeting house at Venn, now a field opposite drive leading to Southcombe.

Source: http://www.foda.org.uk/main/projects/eighteenthcentury/thorncombe/quakers.htm

1839 tithe map

Shows location of mill, leats  and office building..

1806, 1809, 1884-7 OS maps

Earliest record, hearsay  suggesting  a weaving mill at Chaffeigh since 1750. May be the Chaffeigh Farm  (which burnt down in 1962,  was a  mill,  as no mill shown by River Synderford  on 1806 or 1809 OS map, unlike  Shedrick Mill.  Suggests Chaffeigh Mill  was built after Shedrick  and after 1809. 1839 Tithe and 1884-87  OS  map shows footpaths leading from Chaffeigh Farm to Chaffeigh Mill. Mill marked as ‘disused on 1884-87 OS map

1841, 1851 censuses

Workers listed at Chaffeigh Mill in 1841 census include 3 adults, 1 under 14, 2 children aged 9 and 10, and 5 aged under 9. As all members of same family and include a servant  so could have been living there and mill already fallen into disuse?

Factory Acts:

Source: Teacher’s notes,  TNA website http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/lesson13.htm

Shedrick Mill  (OS ref:  ST3780049)

1839 tithe map

Shows location of mill and leats.

1839, 1848  Factor Inspectors’  Reports;  1841, 1851 censuses

Bernard Chaffey prosecuted in 1837  under 1833 Act for employed children under 13 years of age without requisite certification . Prosecuted again in 1847  for similar offences, but may refer to Shedrick Mill given several children under 9 including babies listed on both 1841 and 1851 censuses.  The 1851 census lists  members of three families  including Husseys and Hitchcocks who are also listed at Shedrick Mill on 1841 Census. Numbers of workers aged over 9 listed at Shedrick are significantly  higher than those at Chaffeigh.

Further investigation

Censuses for 1801, 1811, 1821 and 1831 and  1851 onwards. Should  provide further evidence of when Chaffeigh & Shedrick Mills active and numbers employed. 

EVE HIGGS, 6.x.2010

 Back to History page