The Former Mills of the Knepp Estate

The Former Mills of The Knepp Estate.

Much of the data on the corn-mills had been collected by Clare Wickens and Linda Bishop who published their findings in an excellent paper, The Lost Mills of Shipley which appeared in Issue 10, Spring 2004, of Horsham Heritage Magazine. The Ironworking material has been gleaned from Jeremy Hodgkinson’s book The Wealden Iron Industry. Without these people’s help and superb local knowledge, much of this information would not have been available.1

Today, the Knepp estate is probably most famous for its millpond, once boasting to be the largest body of water in Sussex. Even if they had never heard of Knepp, millions of readers of the local newspaper have read recently about the proposed dredging of the lake in an attempt to save the pond for posterity, before it finally silts up and is lost for ever.

Knepp Pond drawn in 1789 by S.H. Grimm, showing a building, possibly the watermill, in background. © The British Library Board Additional 5673, f.22 (no 38).

A look back in history reveals that over the last 1000 years there have been successively, and in one or two cases contemporaneously, at least 6 mills of one form or another on this estate, [water-mills (2), windmills (3), and Iron-working mills (2)] whilst today, nothing except archaeological remains survive to attest to these once thriving industries.

The earliest mills in England were those powered by water, the technology for these having arrived in Britain by the end of the 8th century, and about 6000 were in existence country wide by the time of the Domesday Survey of 1086.

1 Both Claire & Linda are enthusiastic genealogists who have many ancestors from the Parish of Shipley; Linda is also the "online parish clerk"; Jeremy was formerly chairman of the Wealden Iron Research Group, and now a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.

The Former Mills of The Knepp Estate.

Wind-powered mills arrived later, making their appearance towards the end of the 12th century.

Knepp is not mentioned in the Domesday Book, and Shipley only fleetingly, so we have no documentary evidence at this early time whether we had any mills here or not. The origins of the millpond are therefore unknown but it is possible that it predates the 11th century castle. Alternatively it may have been constructed in association with the Medieval iron Industry. It was certainly in existence by the 16th century when a furnace at Floodgates Farm was being worked. Although it is not shown on either Speed’s or Saxton’s surveys of Sussex, there are still nevertheless fleeting references to a body of water, whatever size, and mills at Knepp throughout the medieval period.

The earliest real evidence that we have of the existence of a mill at Knepp is in the Pipe Roll of 1210.2 It occurs in an account by Rueland Bloet for the lands formerly of William de Braose in Sussex. Braose fell foul of King John, eventually dying in prison, and at this point his lands had been forfeited to the king and were being administered by Bloet on his behalf. He accounted here for many small items in an account covering two full pages in the printed text. The mill was worth half a mark (6s. 8d = 33p). The Latin reads: Et de dimidia marca de molendino de la Cnappe.

This record implies that the pond was already in existence prior to the development of the Wealden iron industry. In fact, there was a stew-pond at the time of King John which could be the precursor to this magnificent mill pond we have today, or alternatively it may well be a relic of a much earlier Roman iron-workings.

Victoria County Histories mentions that there is a further record of a mill within Knepp park, possibly its successor, in 13263, and later4. The site seems likely to have been the same as that of the iron furnace of the 16th and 17th centuries, at what was later the south-eastern corner of Knepp pond. A mill at Knepp was mentioned again in the later 17th and the 18th century.5

Between 1724 and 1777 the watermill site was moved to the new bay built at that time at the south end of the pond. At that latter date there was also a windmill nearby (of which more later), worked by the same miller.6 The watermill was still working in 18037 and the windmill in 1813,8 but neither is heard of later. Victoria County Histories goes on to say that Knepp Mill was also one of 3 mills mentioned in 1340.9

2 Pipe Roll 12 John, ed. C F Slade, Pipe Roll Society New Series XXVI (1951 for 1949), p. 61. 3 P.R.O., C 134/97, no. 6. 4 Ibid. C 139/16, no. 25, m. 10; Arundel Cast. MS. A 1896, rot. 3d; Cal. Pat. 1549-51, 21. 5 B.L.Add. MSS. 28243, f. 59; 28246, f. 8; 28249, f. 2. 6 250 Yrs. of Mapmaking in Sussex, ed. H. Margery, pls.6, 16; B.L. Add. MSS. 5673, f. 19; 5685, f. 164v.; W.S.R.O., Ep. I/29/168/199. Knepp Mill House immediately S. of the bay faces towards it, suggesting that the bay was absent in the 17th cent., when the house was built. 7 E.S.R.O., LCG/3/EW 2, f. [51]. 8 250 Yrs. of Mapmaking in Sussex, pl. 20. 9 Inq. Nom. (Rec. Com.), 351.

The Former Mills of The Knepp Estate.

1847 Tithe Map of Knepp mill pond bay. Floodgates Farm marks the ironworking site on the map But Knepp watermill is not named, although there are buildings in the approximate location.

There is some question as to how many mills were served by Knepp pond: water-power was not introduced into the iron-industry until the 15th century, so the early water-mills would almost certainly have been for grinding grain. Precisely when an iron furnace was established here is not known, but it was in existence by about the middle of the 16th century.

The first miller in Shipley for whom we do have a name was John Stepney, who died in 1777. He leased the both old wind and water mills, plus a butcher’s shop. Henry, his youngest child (b. 1775, d. between 1841 and November 1844) was probably the millwright named in the Horsham entry of Piggot’s Directory for 1828. He was certainly miller at Bewbush watermill in 1838 as well as occupant of the neighbouring farm (Pondside Farm).10 John Stepney’s wife was Jane; other children were John Jnr., James, Jane, Thomas, Elizabeth, Mary, Hannah, William. William was his executor; Thomas was a wheelwright.

John Jnr was not named as a beneficiary in his father’s will. By the time of his father’s death, he was an adult and living away from home. The children who did benefit were all minors at the time of John Senior’s death. However, he must have returned to Knepp to carry on his father’s business, as he appears in the land tax returns for 1785, renting land in Shipley and West Grinstead from Jacob Rider, then owner of Knepp estates.11

10 Deposited plans of a proposed railway name the occupants and owners of the property along the route. Pondside Farm and the mill were owned by Thomas Broadwood, the piano manufacturer. In 1838 Henry Stepney was the occupant, while in 1844 his widow Elizabeth was named. The railway line was built (straight through the farmhouse) and is still in existence today. W.S.R.O. refs. QDP/W 71, and QDP/ W 90. 11 Jacob Rider was one of Claude Martin’s Fellow Signatories during the White Mutiny of 1766; he had prospered and became a partner in the Bengal Bank at Calcutta, and a member of the Board of Trade; He was a relative by marriage to Robert Clive’s family, and through the connection was appointed Paymaster General to the Bengal Army.

The Former Mills of The Knepp Estate.

M.M. Hickman, in her book, The History of Shipley, says that a Mr Broughton sold the Knepp estate in 1777 to the Rev. Joseph Jackson and Henry Fletcher of London who resold it to Jacob Rider, a gentleman from Bengal. Sir Charles Raymond bought the property in 1788 for £18,900.12

John Stepney Jnr’s name also turns up in the auction catalogue of October 1787, where an entry is made stating…

Knepp mills, on lease to John Stepney, which expires at Michaelmas 1791, consisting of a water corn-mill, Dwelling house, stable, yard and garden; a wind-corn mill, with the mill plat and croft, containing altogether 3 acres 3 roods, 31 perches, together with the mill-pond, which extends itself through the middle of the estate, and which contains 80 acres, all at a total yearly rent of £30.

The date of this auction ties in nicely with Mrs Hickman’s statement re the sale of the property.

John Jnr. had married circa 1775, Elizabeth Bristow (daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Bristow), and died intestate in early 1792. Letters of administration were granted for ‘John Stepney of Shipley’ on 30th January that year at Chichester, and the business was carried on either by his widow or his daughter, both of whom had the same name - Elizabeth.

John Stepney lived in the dwelling house mentioned above, which, while not grand, was certainly substantial and comfortably furnished from the evidence of the probate inventory that accompanied John Stepney’s will of 1777.

Clare Wickens and Linda Bishop (mentioned above) are currently in the throes of recording all the wills of the parish and they tell me that fashions of the time are reflected in the items to be found in this house – the “yellow Cheyneys” Furniture (coverlet and hangings) which accompanied the bed in the parlour chamber, for example, along with china tea-cups and saucers and two Delftware punch bowls. Someone in the house smoked a pipe, as a tobacco dish and a pair of tobacco tongs are also listed. Decorative items included a number of maps and prints.

Also in the Inventory (which appears in full at the end of this paper) are a couple of other interesting entries. The first is of items in the windmill:

12 There are Several possible sources Hickman may have acquired this data – viz. Rouse, James, Beauties & Antiquities of the County of Sussex (1825), vol. 1, p. 270; Ellis, W.S., Parks & Forests of Sussex (1885) p. 136; Victoria County History of Sussex, Vol. 6, pt. 1, p.112; Sussex County Magazine, Vol. 1, p. 344, and others.

The Former Mills of The Knepp Estate.

A Pair of Wheat Stones and the Iron work And the Tackell and a Peak Stone Bolting Mill and Bins Liss? Jack and Rope A Brass and Liter Shovell and Bells and Sail Cloaths.....£21:0:0

The second entry lists certain items in the water-mill:

Great Oate Mill and Tackle Little Oate Mill and all belonging to it Bolting Mill and Bins and Tackle and Cloaths Liss Jack and Rope Mill Bills and Threffs? Pullies and Ropes Staves and Whedges Wheat Screens and Sive Little Flower Scale Beam and Wheights and Chest Great Flower Scale Beam and Wheights Three Iron Barrs Bushell Half Bushells and 2 Gallons 52 Sacks Hammers and Pritchells 2 Orgars and a pair of Pinchers ...... £42:5:0

On the evidence of the probate inventory, John Stepney’s business activity was not confined to milling. He farmed on his own account, having 23½ acres of land, some of it pasture and some growing wheat and oats. He also owned a cider press – no orchard is mentioned, although an orchard is shown nearby, called Townfield on the 1847 tithe map, so he may have bought these apples from the landowner, or hired out the press to others. He had also recently purchased the leasehold of a butcher’s shop in the parish.

We now know the location of this house and his two mills13, and his will and accompanying probate confirmed that he did indeed have two mills – one watermill and one windmill. The inventory also included a list of people owing money to him at the time of his death. The majority of these can be located within the surrounding parishes, thus making it possible to gain some idea of the area served by the mills. As might be expected, the largest group was from the parish, but an almost equal number were from West Grinstead, among them the parish overseer and the vicar, John Woodward.

This in itself suggested that the two mills had to be in the eastern part of the parish, and now that we have identified them without doubt, we find them ideally situated to carry on such a fruitful trade. A few of John Stepney’s customers came from even further afield, and were said to be residents of Horsham, Nuthurst, Cowfold, Storrington, Ashington and Thakeham.

The defence schedule of 1801 has also proved to be a useful piece of evidence. As a response to the threat of invasion by Napoleon’s forces, the authorities began surveying and recording the resources that might be provided by each parish in the event of an emergency. This document does indeed list a mill at Knepp, and states it would be able to supply two 280 lb. bags of flour every 24 hours.

The Victoria County History for Sussex describes Knepp mill house as a two-bayed 17th century house extended eastwards, apparently in the 18th century. It is in fact a Grade II listed building, described in the English Heritage records14 as,

C16 timber-framed building with plaster infilling and diagonal braces on first floor, ground floor rebuilt in painted brick. Side faced with weather-boarding, tiled roof, casement windows, two storeys and three windows.

13 Knepp Water Mill, TQ 15691 21066; Knepp Wind Mill TQ 16360 21020 . 14 English Heritage Building ID: 299505

The Former Mills of The Knepp Estate.

This would certainly be in keeping with the lifestyle of John Stepney. The detailed Great Survey of Sussex by Thomas Yeakell and William Gardner, published between 1778 and 1783 identifies “Nep Mill” with a post-mill symbol near the south-west corner of Knepp millpond.

Budgen’s Map c1724, and Yeakell & Gardner’s map c 1778/83, both showing a post-mill at southern end of Knepp pond.

In 1754, John Wicker bought Knepp and immediately commissioned James Crow to prepare a detailed survey of the estate. This invaluable map still hangs in Knepp Castle today. This also confirms the existence of Knepp Mill Pond and how much the pond has since shrunk in size, with the location of a windmill building at its southern end, standing on a piece of ground called Mill Plat, with a further piece of land to the east called Mill Croft.

Taken from the “Crowe” map of the Knepp estate, c1754.

The Former Mills of The Knepp Estate.

A schematic of the previous illustration.

The Hammer pond bay is a considerable earthwork forming a dam at the southern end of the mill pond. The sluice on the dam is used to control the water level of the pond. It includes a fish trap in the outfall stream with two hollowed out depressions beside its banks. These are filled with water when the pond water is let out and used as holding ponds for the fish caught in the trap.

The remaining sluice comprises an open fronted brick building which is partially cut into the bank, and which houses a small disused water wheel. The early plans show that the steep banks of the bay were covered by trees, only a few of which have survived, along with some large stumps. The remaining trees were felled in the early 1980s to comply with the requirement of the 1975 Reservoirs Act.

Site of former windmill, (parcel 1430 Mill Plat) as shown on the 1847 Tithe map.

A levelled platform is evident in the field immediately to the north of the Knepp Mill House. Close by, the ground is uneven and shows signs of former earthworks. The terrace coincides

The Former Mills of The Knepp Estate. with the location of the windmill shown on the 1754 Crow survey, and depicted in the Grimm watercolours of 1788. The surrounding earthworks may be associated workings, or spoil heaps left when the windmill was demolished. During recent works, large sand deposits have been discovered in this area.

In 1788, (the year following the above-mentioned auction), the famous landscape artist Samuel Grimm executed a watercolour of Knepp Millpond, which viewpoint was taken from the bay at the southernmost end of the pond. Clearly, on the right-hand side of the picture can be seen the sails of the windmill. The watermill would be standing right behind the artist.

Knepp Pond drawn in 1789 by S.H. Grimm, showing the windmill on extreme right of picture. © The British Library Board Additional 5673, f.19 (no 33).

There is also the map which appears in Cartwright’s Topographical history of Bramber rape (1843), distinctly showing the “star” symbol for watermill at the southern end of the millpond, but without the “post-mill” symbol depicting the windmill nearby. This map was surveyed in 1824, so we fairly safely deduce that the windmill had gone by the latter date.

The site of Knepp water-mill is indicated by names Kneppmill Pond and Kneppmill House on 1st edition OS 6ins map. Furthermore, the 1891 census refers to Knepp Mill, but it is obviously divided into cottages (occupied by a gardener, a bricklayer and a carpenter), so had definitely fallen out of use by then. West Sussex Sites and Monuments Record lists both mills, based on evidence from OS maps.15

15 SMR numbers 3611 and 3612.

The Former Mills of The Knepp Estate.

From a book of ‘Briefs’ (collections held in church on the orders of the church authorities) in 1763 “For Knapp Mills &c. Fires, May 29th £0 – 01 – 8”.16

Cartwright’s map (surveyed 1824) showing a watermill, but no windmill, beside Knepp millpond.

I cannot leave this article here without discussing the old iron-workings on the estate. That industry died in the 17th century. Knepp furnace, then belonging to the Duke of Norfolk, was worked by the Caryll family from July 1568, to April 160417 and by 1650 it was described as the old Furnace18 but no further references have been found, and the works appear not to have been recorded in 1574.19 Its site was south-east of Knepp pond,20 and is remembered by surviving names such as Furnace Lane, Furnace Gate, Floodgate Farm, and Furnace Lodge on the modern A2421 (slag was found nearby when a bridge on that road was widened in 192822).

Another hammer-pond in the parish, south of Shipley village and west of Hammer Farm, drove both a furnace and a forge.23 This forge belonged to the Apsley family of Thakeham, and was probably worked in conjunction with Knepp.24 At least one of these latter was still working in 1641.25 The pond survived in 1849, but had gone by 1875.26 Again, names survive

16 Shipley parish records. WSRO 168/7/1. 17 Straker, E., Wealden Iron. (1931). p.418. 18 B.L. Add. MS. 28249, f.1.; also marked “Old Furnace” on Budgen’s map, 1724. 19 Cleere, Henry, & Crossley, David, Iron Industry of the Weald (1995) p. 340. 20 Margery, H. (ed). 250 Yrs. Of Mapmaking in Suss. Pls. 6, 16. 21 O.S. Map 1/25,000 TQ 12 (1958 edn.). 22 Straker, E., op cit. p.418, (quoting Samuel Winbolt.) 23 Wealden Iron (Wealden Iron Research Group), ix. 6. 24 Straker, E., op cit. p.419 25 WSRO. Add. Ms. 1482 (TS cat.). 26 Lower, M.A., Iron Works of the County of Sussex, S.A.C. ii. p.217; O.S. Map 6”, SUSS. XXXVII (1879 edn.)

The Former Mills of The Knepp Estate. indicating its past history, such as Hammer Farm, Hammer Wood, Hammer Field, and Lower, Middle, and Upper Hammer Pond Lags.

Lower27, writing in 1849, says of this:

A large hammer-pond still remains at Bayntons in Shipley. The works here are presumed to have belonged to the Apsleys, of Apsley, in Thakeham. The initials J A. (for John Apsley?) occur upon many articles of Sussex manufacture. At Apsley House there was, a few years since, a massive pair of andirons so marked, and among the chimney-backs produced by the same eminent ironmaster are two very singular specimens, both dated 1582, one of which is at Misfield Farm, Worth, the other, which was brought from this locality, is now in the possession of Captain Richardson, of Sutton Hurst. It is ornamented with the badge and supporters of Queen Elizabeth, and the legend, ' THES • IS • FOR. lAMES. HIDE. AND. ION • HIS. MIF • 1582.' It may perhaps have been a wedding present. These and many other examples of Sussex iron are stamped with the fleur-de-lis, which leads to the supposition that Frenchmen were much employed in our foundries.28

Straker tells us that the pond at Benton Place was now dry (by 1931 at time of writing), but the bay still remained; it is shown on Budgen's map. The field names only relate to the pond, and Straker had been unable to discover any cinder or evidence of a furnace or forge; or any reason for making this pond, as the stream from it does not run into the hammer-pond described below.

However, about a mile to the N.N.W. is a bay and the above-mentioned field-names. There is hammer cinder, and by the roadside Straker found a sow of iron about 3 feet 10 inches long, of triangular section, 8¾ inches at base, 4½ inches deep. This was apparently the only example remaining in situ, the other two being at Lewes Castle and in the museum at Littlehampton.

The pond site, marked Hammer Pond on the 6-inch Ordnance map, is a long winding depression, and although probably much silted up, can never have held much water. Budgen does not mark this with a hammer sign, and there seems no record of this forge. It would appear probable that it was worked in conjunction with Knepp.

Cleere and Crossley add that the Bay’s length is 110 metres, and height approx. 3 metres, curving round the pond at the southern end and breached by the stream near the centre. The pond has dried up now but evidence of a spillway lies at the northern end where some stonework remains and a dry channel leads to the main stream. One wheel-pit, they tell us, is almost certainly at the site of a deep pool through which the present stream passes downstream of the bay. There is evidence that another wheel-pit once existed at the southern end, from which another dry channel converges on the present stream.

Of the working area there is no obvious sign, but forge cinder and bottoms occur near the southern end and in the present farm track west of the bay.

27 Lower, Mark Antony, Historical and Archaeological Notices of the Iron Works of the County of Sussex, S.A.C. II (1849), p. 217 28 Straker,E, op.cit. pp 418-149.

The Former Mills of The Knepp Estate.

Two miners of Shipley were mentioned in 1588, one of whom had mined for ore in St. Leonard’s Forest during the last three years. Two husbandmen of Shipley had also been working there, evidently on a seasonal basis.29 A hammerman and two founders were recorded between 1617 and 1631.30 The will of one such founder, dated 1617, Roger Tylor, is provided at the end of this paper.

The industry did not survive very long. Jeremy Hodgkinson31 tells us that the second half of the seventeenth century saw a marked reduction in the number of forges in the Weald and with them the number of furnaces.

This was as a direct result of the 1619 embargo on ordnance exportation and the revival of the Swedish iron industry. “By 1640”, Jeremy also tells us, “the Swedes were exporting around 11,000 tons of iron a year. Between 1650 and 1670 an average of 4000 tons of Swedish iron was being imported into London annually.”32 It was cheaper to import iron across the North Sea from Sweden than by land from the Weald, even from areas close to London. Simple economics caused the industry’s death in Sussex.

Sussex iron-works were also once famous for the production of wrought iron bars, but as the iron bar trade waned so too did the industry in the region. Wealden iron became less important nationally; furnaces and forges less well supplied with wood and ore closed down. At one time Wealden forges were capable of making over 100 tons of wrought iron a year, but by the 18th century, many were down to only 50 tons.

They struggled on for a while, having a small revival in changing to the manufacture of ordnance. The Seven Years War provided the Wealden furnaces with record trade and profits, finding a ready market in the naval dockyards at Chatham and Portsmouth. The Wealden iron founders became recognised as among the best in the trade.

However, this revival was too little, too late. The catalyst for the final death of the iron industry in the region came from an entirely unexpected source.

Within months of peace being declared in 1763, the Board of Ordnance received a tender for a large batch of cannon at nearly a third less than the price the Board had been paying hitherto. The Carron Company at Falkirk in Scotland, had been established a few years earlier and had built several large furnaces, some powered by cylinders instead of bellows, and all fuelled with coke.33

It was this which eventually let the Sussex industry down, the old furnaces being driven by bellows, and using charcoal for fuel. They just could not compete. The last furnace of the Western Weald to close was North Park at Pophole, near Haslemere, which ceased production in 1776 following the bankruptcy of its owner. Heathfield forge closed in 1787;

29 P.R.O., E 134/30 Eliz I East./17, mm. 11-14. 30 W.S.R.O., Ep. I/29/168/6-7, 31, including lists of trade goods. 31 Hodgkinson, J. The Wealden Iron Industry.(2008) p. 78. 32 Hodgson, J. Ibid. p. 79 33 Hodgson, J., Ibid, pp. 87-87.

The Former Mills of The Knepp Estate.

Burwash forge barely managed to survive until 1803; and Ashburnham forge, the last Ironworks in the Weald, struggled on until 1827.

There is no sign that the Wealden ironmasters had experimented with furnace design. The incentive to innovate had been blunted rather than strengthened by the intractable problems of sparse and varied ores and unpredictable water supplies. Furnace costs were high, and could only be absorbed within the price obtainable for ordnance. When other regions were successful in reducing their gun price, this last bastion was broken. By the mid- 18th century even in time of war, furnaces were relatively uncommon, and there were many former iron-working districts where their operation and supply were but a memory, where coppices had long been used for other purposes, and where ponds had either been drained, their bays in decay, or their water used for corn-mills. There had been only two in the parishes of Shipley and West Grinstead, John Apsley’s hammer mill in Shipley, and Sir John Caryll’s furnace mill at Knepp. The nearest other iron-working mills were Gosden furnace at Leonardslee, the ironworks in St Leonard’s Forest, the forge at Birchenbridge, and the works at Cuckfield. All had gone by the end of the 17th century.34

Artist’s impression of an Iron-working hammer.

What actually remains today? In the winter of 1973/4 the Wealden Iron Research Group, as part of a scheme to revise information on water-powered sites, included by Ernest Straker in Wealden Iron (1931) visited Knepp Furnace35 (TQ 163 211) and “Newbay” (TQ 155 212), and observed that the drive from the A24 at Floodgate Farm to Knepp Castle actually passed over the old and new bays of the pond but it would appear that the main dam (100 metres long) had been constructed since the site was used for ironworking. The Floodgate site appeared to have been substantially altered and no trace of a bay remained although there was a substantial fall in height through the Knepp Estate wood-yard. The New Bay was some five feet above the pond, and over 20 feet on the lower side. It had obviously been raised

34 Cleere, H. & Crossley, D., The Iron Industry of the Weald. (1995). 35 E.Straker Wealden Iron (1931) p. 418

The Former Mills of The Knepp Estate. and widened to take the roadway (in a manner similar to that at Strudgate Furnace) and appeared to have had at one time sluices at either end. The pond, it was observed, although still in water, was no longer the largest body of water in Sussex, as described by Straker, due to siltation, and that honour now would probably go to Weir Wood reservoir. It would appear, however, according to Straker, that the furnace bay was at the eastern end of the lake, the “Old” site standing at the south eastern corner of the lake with a south easterly flow, and the “New” dam running north-west/south-east with the pond to its north-east.

At the site of the present bay, there is a large depression to the north-western end, striking off south-westerly, which may have served as a quarry for material for enlarging the dam but has since been used for rubbish; however, despite rabbit holes, cursory inspection revealed no trace of slag whatever anywhere. It may be conjectured that a possible sluice also ran at the south-eastern end and that the weather-boarded buildings nearest to the bay had been converted from a mill. A modern sluice and the remains of a pumping house stand in the centre of the bay. The area to the south west of this is level, with several drainage ditches, which take the surplus water from the pond to the Adur tributary, flowing in a north west/south east direction.

Investigations revealed no evidence of slag or cinders on either the old or new bay sites, but a piece of glassy slag was observed in the bed of the stream on the eastern side of the A24. No forge cinders were found at either site.

There is a timbered/wattle cottage of 17th century date standing below the “new” bay at its south eastern corner which estate tradition has it was an Iron Founder’s house, albeit of humble proportions. The dwelling was in occupation and a further estate tradition has it that the “old water-wheel” stood below this bay, and one of the buildings at Floodgates farm had indeed been formerly a mill. Upon investigation no trace of the old wheel was found.

The position of slag reported by Samuel Winbolt36 is consistent with their having been a pond bay downstream from the existing bay. The A24 has however been further enlarged (during the 1960s) into a dual-carriageway, and this may have obliterated further traces. It seems probable however, that the original furnace bay was at about TQ 163 211 and has been lost in construction of farm buildings and roadway, and the new sluices etc. at Floodgates Farm.

36 E. Straker, Ibid.

The Former Mills of The Knepp Estate.

Will of John Stepney, 177737

This is the last will and testament of me John Stepney of Shipley in the County of Sussex Miller made this twenty sixth day of ffebruary in the year of our Lord 1777 as follows/that is to say/Imprimis I will order and direct that all my just debts funeral expences and probate of this my last will and Testament be fully paid and satisfyed by my executor hereinafter named Item I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Jane all my estate whatsoever To Hold to her and her Assigns for and during the term of her natural life if she so long continues my widow and unmarried but my will and mind is that in case my said wife should happen to marry again that then and in such case and immediately after her marriage all my Estate and effects whatsoever shall go to and be equally divided amongst all and every my children hereinafter mentioned (that is to say) James, Jane, Thomas, Elizabeth, Mary, Hannah and Henry38 as tenants in common and which I do hereby give and bequeath to them respectively accordingly but if it should so happen that my said wife should not marry again that then I do hereby give and bequeath the same to such of my said children immediately after her decease as she shall in and by her last will and Testament appoint and in default thereof to my said children equally as Tenants in common AND WHEREAS my son William stands jointly bound with me for One hundred pounds which is my proper debt and he likewise stands indebted to me in the sum of fifty pounds Now my will and meaning therefore is that the account between him and me should be settled so that neither party be any looser by such joint debts as aforesaid AND LASTLY I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said wife Jane and my said son William Joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former Wills by me at any time heretofore made IN WITNESS whereof I have to this my said last Will and Testament set my hand and seal the Day and year first above written John Stepney signed sealed published and declared by the said Testator as and for his last will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other Solomon Nye Wm Ellis

Burial: 18th May 1777 Probate: 8th July 1777

37 W.S.R.O., Calendar of Wills in the Consistory Court of the Bishop of Chichester, 1482-1800, Stepney, John, Shipley, Register 3, vol. 43, f. 178. 38 A further son, Daniel, is not mentioned but has been identified by his own will (TNA Prob 11/1658). He lived in Tooting and died between 12th December 1821 and 27th June 1822.

The Former Mills of The Knepp Estate.

JOHN STEPNEY 1777 INVENTORY39

A true and Perfect Inventory of all and singular the Goods Chattells and Credits of John Stepney late of the Parish of Shipley in the County of Sussex Miller deceased taken and appraized the Fifth Day of June In the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Seven, as followeth (to wit). – No 1. In the Kitchen 1 Clock and case 1 Dresser and Shelves 6 Pewter Dishes 12 Pewter Plates 4 Delf Plates 5 Stone Plates 1 Bason 1 Jack compleat and small lead weight 1 Spitt and holdfast 1 Pair of Brass candlesticks 1 choping knife 1 Pott plate 1 Salt Box 1 Tin flower Pott 3 Iron scuers 13 Wire Scuers 1 Flesh Fork 1 Toasting Fork 1 Pair Branirons 1 Fire Pan and Tongs 1 Pair Bellows 1 Pair Gridirons 1 Iron Pott 1 Iron Oven Peal 1 cleaver 1 Pr Tobacco Tongs 1 Box Iron 4 Heats 3 Flat Irons 3 Iron Candlesticks 1 Iron Mortar and Pestle 1 Pr of Snuffers 1 Large oval Table 1 Small Table 1 Ironboard 1 Falling Table 1 Saw 1 Deal Screen 1 Iron Fender 6 Chairs 1 Cupboard with Lock and Key 1 Quart Japan Pott 1 ½ Pint Pott 1 ½ Doz Knives 2 Doz of Forks and Box 1 Pr of Iron Spitt Racks...... £6:15:10

No 2 In the Great Parlour 1 Square Wainscott Dining Table 1 Do Corner Cupboard 1 Mahogany Teaboard 1 Wainscott Tea Table 9 Ash Chairs 1 Armed Do 1 Night Chair 1 Stone Bottle 2 Quart Decanters 1 Pr Brandirons fire Pan and Tongs 2 Delf Punch Bowles 5 China Basons 2 Tea Potts 6 Stone Plates 8 China Cups and Saucers 1 Spice Box 2 Sugar Basons 1 Glass Cream Pott 1 Glass 6 Silver Tea Spoons 2 Do Table Do 1 Pr Do Tongs 1 Punch Ladle 2 Stone Drink Pott [sic] 1 Tobacco Dish 2 Maps 5 Prints...... £6:1:6

No 3 In the Little Parlour 1 Small bedsted and Sacking 2 Parcels of Hops 1 Flaskett 1 Side Saddle 1 Iron Fire Rack 1 Square Table 2 Stone Oil Bottles 2 Chairs 1 Warming Pan...... £3:2:6

No 4 In the Cellar 2 Iron Hoop Tubs 2 Small Do 1 Bearing? Tub 1 Funnell 1 Hooper 1 Firm? 2 Stands 1 Milk Crock 4 Do Pans 1 Tin Cream Kettle 3 Stone Dishes 6 Plates 1 Brass ?Cock 1 Yeast Culer...... £1:19:8

No 5 In the Brewhouse 1 Brass Furnace 28 Gallons 1 Brew Vault 1 Bucking Tub 6 Culers 1 Milk Pail 1 Tin Kittle 1 Handbill 1 Brass Porridge Pott 5 Pewter Dishes 1 Tin Cullender 1 Tray 1 Tin Pudding Pan 2 Brass Skilletts 1 Brass Cock 1 Tin Funnell 1 Tea Kittle 2 Tin Sauce Pans 3 Wooden Dishes 2 Basketts 3 Wooden Bottles 2 Stands 1 Firm 1 Wooden Bowl 12 Pewter Spoons...... £5:7:6

39 STC I /43 f. 178

The Former Mills of The Knepp Estate.

[Page 2] No 6 In the Pantery 1 Powdering Tub 1 Churn 1 Fry Pan 1 Tin Kittle 9 Crocks & Panns 1 Butterboat 10 White Stone Plates...... £0:16:6

No 7 In the Sink 2 Drink Tubs 1 Culer 14 Pails 2 Handishes 1 bowl 4 Seives 1 Trencher Rack 1 Iron Kettle 1 Pr of Garden Sheers 2 Firms 1 Block 1 Chest about 2½ Doz of Glass Bottles ...... £1:3:0

No 8 In the Parlour Chamber 1 Four Post Bedsted matt and Cord withYellow Cheyneys Furniture and Rodds 1 Goose Feather Bed 1 Boulster 2 Pillows 1 Blankett 1 Quilt 1 Wainscott Chest Draws 1 Square Oak Table 1 Swing Glass in a Walnutree Frame 6 Chairs 1 Pr Brandirons 1 Map 1 Pr of Window Curtains 1 Close Press 4 Close Baskett 1 Hatt Box 1 Stone 2 Quart Pott 1 Pr of Bellows...... £8:15:0

No 9 In the Little Room 1 Bedsted matt and Cord 1 featherbed 1 Bolster 2 Pillows 1 Blankett 1 Coverlett 1 Pillion and Cloth...... £2:4:0

In the Kitchen Chamber 1 Four Post bedsted Matt and Cord with Very Old Hangings 1 feather bed 1 boulster 1 Blankett 1 Coverlet 1 Chest 1 sit? 1 Quilting Frame....£2:19:0 = £5:3:0

No 10 In the Brewhouse Chamber 1 Four Post BedstedMatt and Cord with Striped Home made furniture and Rodds proper Hangings and Tester 1 feather Bed 1 Bolster 1 Pillow 1 Blanket 1 Quilt 1 Beach Chest of Draws 1 Oak? Chest 2 Chairs ...... £5:10:6

No 11 Linen 1 Pr of Sheets 1 Pr of Do 2 Pr of new Sheets 1Pr of Do 1Pr of Do1Pr of Do1Pr of Do 2 Pr of Do 1Pr of Do 1 Pr of new [not wool or not wove] 1 Doz ½ 9 Stuff not wited 6 Pr of Pillow Coats 2 Diaper [illegible] Table Cloaths 6 Do and Do 7 Towells 5 Napkins 1 White Quilt Barn 3 Vinegar Tubs ...... £11:12:6

All the above amounts are added up – total £56:7:6

The Former Mills of The Knepp Estate.

[page 3] The Windmill A Pair of Wheat Stones and the Iron work And the Tackell and a Peak Stone Bolting Mill and Bins Liss? Jack and Rope A Brass and Liter Shovell and Bells and Sail Cloaths.....£21:0:0

The Water Mill Great Oate Mill and Tackle Little Oate Mill and all belonging to it Bolting Mill and Bins and Tackle and Cloaths Liss Jack and Rope Mill Bills and Threffs? Pullies and Ropes Staves and Whedges Wheat Screens and Sive Little Flower Scale Beam and Wheights and Chest Great Flower Scale Beam and Wheights Three Iron Barrs Bushell Half Bushells and 2 Gallons 52 Sacks Hammers and Pritchells 2 Orgars and a pair of Pinchers ...... £42:5:0

The Shop and Out Doors A Grinstone a Plank and a Malt Mill Apple Mill and Cider Press and Cloaths 4 Hundred of Coggs and Staves a Turning Lave a Sledge and Wedge and old Iron saws and ??? and Iron Tops of Timber 8 Hogg Trough and Hutches and a Boat ...... £16:7:0

These amounts are then totalled up, coming to £79:12:0 and the total from the previous pages is brought forward.

8 Acres of Wheat 8 Acres and an half of Oates One Dung Cart two horse harnes? One Round Plow One Stick Plow One ?Iron and Stumps and Two Sives 5Acres and an half of Seed Grass One Waggon 5 Hoggs two Cows 3 Horses and all the Harness 2 Acres of Mead Grass all at ...... £138:0:0

Total £273:19:6

Appraisors Thomas Plumer Harry Fillary William Boorer Thomas Scutt

Added in a different hand: Money in purse not exceeding £2:2:0 Intestates wearing apparel £3:0:0 New total £279:1:6 A leasehold messuage Butchers shop & croft of land in Shipley aforesaid of which ??? 29 years unexpired at Lady Day next & for which the intestate above four years since purchased at £40:0:0

New total £319:1:6

Fish in the pond value not known.

Wm Stepney Sep 13? 1777 Sworn before me Wm Jameson40 Surrogate

40 Vicar of Shipley.

The Former Mills of The Knepp Estate.

Page 4, col. 1 Debts due to the said Testator which this Deponent has reason to believe from the length of time poverty of the parties & other reasons never will be recovered & therefore protests against being charged therewith – John Holland Jnr Shipley 1.5.4 Wm Jutton Jnr of Do 1.3.6 Wm Perthew? unknown -.6.4 Wm Davis late of Shipley decd 1.3.- John Nicholls do do -.6.6 David Morgan do do -.6.- Edwd Booker of Beading? -.12.- Saml? Matthews Nuthurst -.6.8 Thos Randell, Shipley -.6.6 Thos Pearce Horsham 3.14.9 Robert Mitchell unknown -.11.4 Chas Evens do -.4.4 John Jupp Horsham 3.-.- Wm? Fiest late of Shipley decd 1.-.- Richd Turner W Grinsted 3.12.- Jasper Stil?l41 late of Shipley decd 1.4.6 Richard Harwood near [looks like Hadfechem] -.6.8

Debts recvd by the administrator Wm Stringer42 2.5.- Wm Morgan43 1.2.6 James Stiles?44 -.10.- Richd? Nicholls45 -.18.- John Parker?46 -.12.- Thos Rapley47 -.14.- John Parsons48 -.14.- Wm Somersell49 2.-.- Rd Styler 1.1.- Arthur Briggs50 -.13.- Wm Matthews51 -.11.- Henry Mears52 3.4.-

41 Died March 1777. 42 Three men of this name in W Grinstead and Shipley at this period. 43 Shipley 44 W Grinstead 45 Shipley 46 Several possibles in Shipley. 47 Shipley 48 Shipley 49 Shipley 50 Shipley 51 Shipley 52 Shipley

The Former Mills of The Knepp Estate.

Wm Briggs53 -.7.6 Henry Hughes54 1.5.- Overseers of West Grinsted 6.10.- James Brown 4.7.- Chas Waller55 -.14.- John Briggs -.6.- Richard Stringer56 1.8.- John Morgan57 1.1.- Henry Evens?58 -.14.- John Stringer 2.-.- Thos Mears59 -.14.- Chas Nye60 -.14.- Henry Bennett61 -.14.- Jas Laker62 -.19.- Revd Jno Woodward63 14.10.- John Lashmer?64 -.4.-

Written upside down at foot of column: 10th October 1777 Shipley Inventory of the Goods &c of John Stepney deceased

Column 2 Debts due to the said testator to some of whom the said testator owed larger sums of money & therefore this Deponent protests against being charged therewith til the amounts are settled & the money recvd several of them being also doubtful – Thomas Thoms Ashington -.4.4 Thos Bateny? Cowfold 3.11.- Wm Philps Storrington 1.19.8 Danl A???er Thakeham 1.9.9 Jas Styler? Jnr West Grinsted 1.4.- Jno Johnson Shipley -.5.- Wm Gratwick? West Grinsted 3.4.- Thos Goring do -.10.- Je????r Stringer do -.4.- Edwd Bateny? do -.5.4

53 Shipley 54 Shipley 55 Possibly Horsham 56 Two possibles, both W Grinstead 57 Shipley 58 Shipley 59 Horsham and Shipley. 60 Shipley 61 Possibly Nuthurst 62 Shipley and W Grinstead 63 Vicar of W Grinstead 64 Shipley

The Former Mills of The Knepp Estate.

David? Holland Shipley 1.5.- Richd Cooper W Grinsted -.19.- Jno Trusler do -.10.- Thos Bacon Shipley 2.-.- Henry ???ght Nuthurst -.11.4 Thos Bristow Shipley 6.10.- George Frances? W Grinsted 3.7.6 Wm Parkhurst do 5.18.- Jno Philpott do -.13.4 Jno Stuart? -.14.- Thos ??? W Grinsted -.13.- Edwd Bristow Shipley 7.-.- Edwd Botting W Grinsted -.5.- Sir Merrick Burrell Bart -.7.8 David Thomsett? Shipley -.9.6 signed Willm Stepney; Sep. 28 1777 Sworn before me Wm Jameson Surrogate. Exhibited 4th October etc etc

The Former Mills of The Knepp Estate.

Will of Roger Tylor, 1617 MF 818 Storrington Deanery

In the name of God Amen the xxiiiith day of May Anno Dni 1617 I Roger Tylor65 thelder of Shepley in the County of Sussex ffounder being sicke in body but of pfecte memory thancks be geven to Almighty god therefore doe thus make & ordeyne this my last will & testament in manr & forme followeing ffyrst I comend & geve my soule unto Almighty god my creator hopeinge to possesse & inherytt his heavenly kingdome throughe the merytts death & passion his only sonne Jesus Christ my onely savyor & redemer And my bodye to be buryed in Christyan buryall Item I give unto Roger my sonne my best fetherbed save one wth all thinges thereunto belonginge One Joyned Chest standing in the chamber wherein I nowe lye my greatest brasse kettle except one One iron kettle one dripping pan one s???tt66 one ould fowleing peece and one Cubbard and a R[oun]d table at Kytford Itm I geve unto Richard my sonne my fflock bed in the Chamber wher I now lye in wth all thinges thereunto belonging my greatest brasse Cawdron my s[qu]are table at Kitford wth the forme & Joyned stooles thereunto belonging One payer of sheetes One iron dripping pan the biggest One spytt Itm I geve unto Charles my sonne67 fyve pound to be payd to him at the end of Tenn Yeares next comynge Itm I give unto Robert my sonne fyve shillinges of lawfull Englishe mony Itm I geve to Richard my sonne my best morter mould Itm I geve to Roger my sonne my other morter mould Itm I geve unto Willm Stephens ffortye shillinges to be payd to him at his age of xxity And I will that my executrix herein named shall put the same out to the best advantage for him in the meanetyme that [she can?] And to pay the increase thereof unto him wth the said xls Itm I give unto the highe Churche of Chichester xxiid Itm I geve to the poore of Shepley fyve shillinges and to the poore of Westgrynsted (where I will to be buryed) fyve shillinges and fyve shillinges to the Ringers at Westgrynsted Itm I geve to the sayd Richard my sonne my great Joyned Cheste standing in the newe Chamber Itm all the residue of my goods Chattell and houshold stuffe not before geven and bequeathed I geve and bequeath unto Sylvester my wyfe68 whome I make my full and sole Executrix of this my last will and I ordeyne and appoynte John Stamford of Westgrinsted and Richard Capp of Shepelye to be overseers hereof to see the sam pformed according to the trust I repose in them unto whome I geve for their paynes to be taken herein xs a peece over & above theire ordenary charges bourne Wytnesses hereunto John Stamford Richard Cappe Roger Tylor X his marke

Burial: 27th May 1617 at West Grinstead Probate: 5th June 1617

65 The parish registers show that the family was also known by the surname Quinten (and variants). 66 Could be ‘spytt’, as below. 67 Charles, son of Roger Quentens, baptised at Shipley 5.10.1595. 68 No marriage found, but Silvester Tyler alias Quinten, widow, m. Richard Linfield at Shipley in May 1619. SMI

The Former Mills of The Knepp Estate.

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