Description

By Derek Stidder & Colin Smith

The watermills of West Sussex were important buildings in the community contributing to the county’s economy. Used predominately for the milling of flour they also were used in the manufacture of paper and iron artefacts, and formed important elements in the processing of wool cleaning and leather dressing.

This book, for the first time, chronicles the history of the water milling industry in the county. Each mill is given its location, the nature of the business carried out, the machinery and the people who worked them, and the reasons for their economic growth and eventful decline.

Many mills no longer exist, or have become houses, factories and some remain derelict and devoid of any machinery. A great many of them can be identified by a dried up millpond or watercourse or just by a tangible change in the vegetation. This fascinating book remembers them all – a comprehensive record of West Sussex’s forgotten heritage.

160 pages 152 illustrations