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Fifteenth century Watermill
In the framework of the present mill the fifteenth century mill can be clearly seen, its walls, timbers and roof trusses form the centre of the building. At this time the wheel operated two pairs of stones. Mapledurham Gurney, Chawsey and Purley relied entirely on the mill. Records show that Sir Thomas de Hurskaal (Lord of Purley) provided chalk to make roads and bridges so his corn could cross the river to the mill.
The Watermill In The Late Seventeenth Century
The plague of 1677 drove the wealthy out of London and the royal court moved to Abingdon. The millers were eager to profit from this situation and so added a second waterwheel and two more pairs of stones. They also added bins in the roof space and a chain hoist to haul sacks up inside the mill. A further extension was built to house flour dressers to separate fine white flour from bran that the affluent customers demanded.
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