THE HOUSE MILL

The Domesday Survey recorded 8 mills in the Manor of Hame (i.e. West Ham), and said that there had been 9 in 1066. At that time, windmills were unknown in England, so these must have been water mills on the River Lea, almost certainly including Three Mills. As these must have relied on control of the tide, they are among the earliest known tide mills in England.

The site was particularly suitable, offering the combination of tidal power and river navigation to supply grain from Essex, Hertfordshire and the coast; was close to Bow Bridge and the main route west into London and its population; and, later, to the growth of industry and population in West Ham.

The site was known as Three Mills in medieval times (though a 'mill' may then have referred to a pair of stones and not necessarily a building). After the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the mills passed into private hands.

In the medieval period, the mills along the Lower Lea, including Three Mills, were part of an important industrial centre and provided flour for the bakers of Stratford-atte-Bow, whose supply of bread to the City of London was renowned. In 1588, one of the two remaining mills was described as a gunpowder mill.

In 1728, Three Mills were bought by Peter Lefevre, a Huguenot, who entered into partnership with several others, including Daniel Bisson, which ran an integrated operation, in which the mills operated in conjunction with a distillery. The company had its own carpenters and coopers and operated a large piggery fed from waste products. They also continued to mill for other purposes including supply to the Navy Victualling Office.

The House Mill was built in 1776 by Daniel Bisson, on the site of an earlier mill and between two houses occupied by the miller and his family - hence its name. The south façade displays a coat of arms dated 1776 and the initials "D S B". It has 40 cast iron wall plates, which tie the ends of the floor beams, and 24 windows.

The Clock Mill opposite was rebuilt in 1817, incorporating the clock (dated 1753) and an older bell from the earlier mill. There was also a third (wind) mill which survived until about 1840.

The House Mill continued to operate until 1940 and the Clock Mill until 1952. They were able to survive for so long, when most other water mills had lost out to competition from automated roller milling of imported grain, because of their integrated operation with the distillery, including use of the House Mill for storage.

Three Mills in about 1800

The House Mill

Archaeological investigation suggests that the House Mill and the Miller's House appear to be built on an artificial island in the channels of the Lea. Piles supporting horizontal timbers were used as a foundation for the House; and there is evidence of earlier horizontal beams pegged to the ground, possibly to prevent soil erosion by flooding. Deeper investigation revealed evidence for an earlier revetment of the island on the north wall, which continued under the west wall under the Mill. Inside the revetment, stones and chalk were trodden down, outside it, river silt and mud had built up.

The House Mill is of timber frame construction with stock brick cladding on three sides. Six bays on the north side are weather-boarded. It is 80 feet long by 50 feet wide. It bridges over four internal mill races and two waterways with a span of 45 feet - the largest of any tidal mill in the country. The central tide race had gates which closed and re-opened automatically as the tide rose and fell.

The roof has twin ridges, with a valley gutter between. The surviving mill was roofed in Welsh slate, but evidence during restoration confirmed that it was originally roofed in clay tiles, which have therefore been used exclusively in the restoration.

The Mill has five floors, two of which are in the roof space and are lit by 12 dormer windows.

The floors, main beams, joists and the great "ship's knees" which tie the main beams into the north elevation are all of softwood (pitch pine), while part of the ground floor, liable to flood since the raising of the river banks, is of teak. English evergreen oak was used for the gearing exposed to salt water; elm was used for parts of the wheels and apple wood for teeth in the gearing