History on the Ground* - 1

Looking at this scene, spot the way the grass banks slope down to the beck. But straight ahead there is a ridge with outbuidlings on it and a garden in front of them that slopes down towards us.

The natural contours of the banks are blocked.

It is my theory that the ridge and the sloping garden are man-made.

The dwelling that faces us, low down over to the right is Mill House. It was a water mill. The wear mark of the water wheel is still visible on the left hand side-wall.

It is possible that a mill has existed on this site since the 1100s (at least) when there is documentary evidence of 2 mills in the village.

So, the ridge served to dam the water up in the mill pool behind the water mill. Prior to this landscaping, the banks of the beck would have continued on up the valley undisturbed.

* I dedicate this observation to the late Maurice Beresford who wrote an inspirational book called "History on the Ground".