| Mapledurham Watermill | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Mapledurham,Oxfordshire, England |
| Coordinates | 51°29′8.52″N1°2′14.82″W / 51.4857000°N 1.0374500°W /51.4857000; -1.0374500 |
| Built | 15th to 19th century |
| Governing body | Mapledurham Estate |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
| Official name | The Mill |
| Designated | 24 October 1951 |
| Reference no. | 1059523 |
  Location of Mapledurham Watermill in Oxfordshire | |
Mapledurham Watermill is a historicwatermill in thecivil parish ofMapledurham in theEnglish county ofOxfordshire. It is driven by the head of water created byMapledurham Lock and Weir, on theRiver Thames. The mill was built in the 15th century, and further extended in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. It is a Grade II*listed building and is preserved in an operational state.[1][2]
The mill also houses amicro hydro-electric power station, using a 3.6-metre (12 ft)Archimedes' screw turbine to generate electricity for sale to theNational Grid. The turbine produces some 83.3Kilowatts, which is sufficient to power about 140 homes.[3][4]
A mill was already present at Mapledurham at the time of theDomesday Book. The central section of the current mill building dates back to the 15th century. Originally the mill had a singlewater wheel on the river side of the building. The mill was increased in size in the 1670s, and aleat was constructed to drive a second water wheel on the village side. It is this second wheel which is still in use today.[5]
In 1690, the mill was leased to James Web for the sum of £60 per year. Around 1700, he expanded the mill again to allow him to install the equipment to produce the refined flour that was becoming popular. His son Daniel Webb took over from him in 1726 at a rent of £100. In 1747, Thomas Atrum took over the mill at a rent of £150, which was raised to £205 in 1776. In 1777 a barn was added on the mill island, and awharf built to allow the mill to supply flour to theLondon market bybarge. However, by 1784 Thomas Atrum wasbankrupt.[5]
The mill continued to flourish, and as late as 1823 plans were drawn up to rebuild the mill in classical style. The advent of cheap imported flour fromNorth America damaged the mill's prosperity, but it remained in use until just after theSecond World War. On 24 October 1951, the watermill was designated as a Grade II*listed building. It was restored and brought back into use in 1980.[2][5]
In 2011, work started on the installation of a newArchimedes' screw turbine on the river side of the watermill in order to generate electricity. This was built to provide power toMapledurham House, and replaced a turbine installed in the 1920s that was no longer functional. At the time the turbine was inaugurated in 2012, it was the most powerful turbine on the River Thames, and the largest of its type in the country.[3][4]
In 2022, the mill was vandalised with windows smashed and damage to wooden frames.[6]
In 2025, the mill could be visited as part of a pre-booked tour including Mapledurham House and gardens on 11 Wednesday afternoons between April and October.[7]
The mill is located in the grounds ofMapledurham House. The water mill is normally working on opening days, and visitors can visit both main floors of the mill, and see (and feel) its operation.[8]
Admission is charged, and joint tickets are available that allow admission to both house and mill. Access is by car down the narrow and steep lane that is Mapledurham village's only road connection, or by a boat service that runs fromThameside Promenade inReading on all opening days.[8][9][10]
The mill building is best known, and has gained worldwide recognition, for being featured on the cover of heavy metal bandBlack Sabbath'sself-titled debut album in 1970.[11]
The watermill is also known for its starring role in the1976 film ofThe Eagle Has Landed, where the mill leat is the scene of the dramatic rescue of a local girl by aGermanparatrooper that results in the unmasking of Steiner and his men.[12]
The mill was used as a filming location on theChildren's Film Foundation'sExploits at West Poley (1985), starring Jonathan Jackson,Charlie Condou,Brenda Fricker andSean Bean.
The mill appears in the introductory credits to the BBC television programme,Richard Hammond's Blast Lab, as the supposed hidden location of the underground lab. The mill also appears in theMidsomer Murders episodes "The Fisher King" (season 7; episode 3), as the scene for the discovery of a body,[13][14] and "A Grain of Truth" (season 23; episode 3).[citation needed]The mill is also the location used for Mill Cottage in theInspector Morse episode "The Day of The Devil".[citation needed]
The mill appears as a location in several episodes of the 2017 BBC seriesTaboo starringTom Hardy.[15]
In 2022, Mapledurham Mill appears as the backdrop for series 5, episode 4 ofMortimer & Whitehouse Gone Fishing. It is the location at which Bob and Paul embark on their boat trip to the weir for an (unsuccessful) fishing trip and subsequently return to, on both days 1 and 2, to fish.
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Media related toMapledurham Watermill at Wikimedia Commons
