Marvells Mill
From Graces Guide
Marvell's Mill on the River Nene at Northampton.
- Marvell's mill is apparently identical with the Merewyns mill of 1253, the Merthensmylne of the Hundred Rolls and the Mervyns mylne of the Valor Ecclesiasticus.
- It also was held by St. Andrew's, like St. Andrew's mill north-west of the town and Rushmill to the south-east. A postern in the town wall and a causeway seven feet wide led to it.
- After the Dissolution it was acquired by the town, and a windmill was erected alongside of the water mills.
- The mills having been leased to a succession of tenants, were employed about 1740 for a new venture in cotton-spinning, financed by Edward Cave, the founder and editor of the Gentleman's Magazine and one of the original patrons of the Northampton infirmary.
- The carding and Roller Spinning machinery invented by Lewis Paul, which anticipated Cartwright's inventions, was set up in them under the management of T. Wyatt and for a while Marvell's Mills were known as the Cotton Mills.
- The venture failed, for lack of capital as much as of good management
Sources of Information
- [1] British History Online