Two Waters Mill
Two Waters at Boxmoor, Herts.
This was a mill site at the time of the Domesday Book (1086) and had been so for at least 100 years prior to that. The mill was also known as Top Mill.
1763 First made paper. Prior to that it was a corn mill owned by Bartholomew Revell (c1700-1767). He left the mill to his son Henry, but he died in 1790 without children. The mill then passed to John Edward Spicer, the son of John Spicer (c1730-1771) and his wife Susannah the daughter of Bartholomew Revell.
1791 The mill was sold to the Foudriniers - Henry and Sealy Fourdrinier
From 1818 the owners were the Grand Junction Canal Co.
By 1818 occupied by Thomas Nichols
1838 See M. and J. D. Stevens
From 1853 George Watkin Hayes used the mill; there were four beating engines for one 62” machine.
1856 See John Dovey Stevens
c1856 Installed a compound, or two-cylinder Wolf beam engine, made at Watford by George Tidcombe and Son.
1867 Patent to George Watkin Hayes, of Two Waters Mills, Hemel Hempstead, in the county of Herts, for the invention of "improvements in machinery for making paper."[1]
1877 Company liquidated. George Watkin Hayes and Robert Horsfall.[2] '...Liquidation by Arrangement or Composition with Creditors, instituted by George Watkin Hayes, of Two Waters, Hemel Hempstead, and Robert Horsfall, of Eaton House, Watford, both in the county of Hertford, carrying on business in copartnership as Paper Manufacturers, under the style or firm of G. W. Hayes and Co., at Two Waters aforesaid, and Frogmoor, near Hemel Hempstead...'[3]
The mill was then used by John Dickinson and Co for 7 years to prepare esparto half stuff.
Lease extended to 1887.
From 1888 the mill was disused for a while.
1889 Plans for the rebuilding the Two Waters Mill by the Grand Junction Canal Co.[4]
The Universal Barrel Co started experimental work in the mill on a process invented by Mr Thame.
1891 Messrs Dickinson Co, fire at Two Waters Mill.[5]
1891 'We regret to record the shutting down Two Waters Mill, the whole of the hands employed by the 'Universal Barrel Company' at that place having received a week’s notice Friday evening last, it being understand their intention to suspend working operations on Thursday Dec. 24th'[6]
A considerable part of the mill was burnt down a few months after the Barrel Company started work, although a large part of the old mill remained[7]
1893 Thame and Sanguinetti made 300 paper barrels a day there
Most of the machinery was sold off and the mill used for processing wool.
1918 November. The mill had been used for distilling a petrol substitute and was destroyed in a violent explosion that shook the town of Hemel Hempstead leaving only the chimney.[8]
1919 Advertisement for Carper, Faulkner and Co at Two Waters Mill selling Boiler Fuel Oil in drums and barrels.[9]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ The London Gazette 2 August 1867
- ↑ Morning Post - Saturday 22 December 1877
- ↑ The London Gazette Publication date:31 July 1877 Issue:24488 Page:4522
- ↑ Hemel Hempstead Gazette and West Herts Advertiser - Saturday 24 August 1889
- ↑ Hemel Hempstead Gazette and West Herts Advertiser - Saturday 17 October 1891
- ↑ Hemel Hempstead Gazette and West Herts Advertiser - Saturday 26 December 1891
- ↑ The Engineer 1892/04/08
- ↑ North Bucks Times and County Observer - Tuesday 26 November 1918
- ↑ Leeds Mercury - Tuesday 05 August 1919