Sele Mill facts for kids
Sele Mill is an old building in Hertford, England. It was built in the late 1800s and used to be a mill. Now, it has been changed into apartments where people live.
On the building, there is a special blue plaque. This plaque tells us about an even older mill that stood here before. That earlier mill was super important because it was the very first place in England to make paper.
Contents
The Mill's Long History
Early Beginnings: A Mill in the Domesday Book
A long time ago, in 1086, a watermill at this exact spot was written about in the Domesday Book. This was a huge survey ordered by King William the Conqueror to record everything in England. Back then, the area called Sele was a small manor, which means it was like a small estate or village separate from Hertford. Only two families lived there!
Power from the River Beane
For most of its history, the mill used the natural power of the River Beane. This river is a special type called a chalk stream. The River Beane flows into the River Lea in Hertford. The water's movement helped the mill machinery work.
England's First Paper Mill
In the late 1400s, something very exciting happened! A clever business person named John Tate changed the mill. He turned it into a paper mill. As far as we know, this was the first time paper was made in England! This was a big step for writing and printing in the country.
Around the year 1500, the paper mill stopped making paper. The building then went back to its original job: grinding corn. This means it crushed grains to make flour.
Fire and Rebuilding
Sadly, in 1890, a fire destroyed the mill building. But it was quickly rebuilt! The old house where the miller lived, which was built in the 1700s, was lucky and survived the fire.
The Mill Race and River Health
How the Mill Used Water Power
Even though the mill doesn't use water power anymore, there's still a special structure on the River Beane. It's called a labyrinth weir, built in the 1900s. A weir is like a small dam that helps control the water flow. This weir was designed to create a "head of water" for the mill race. A mill race is a channel that directs water to turn the mill's wheel.
Helping Fish Travel
Today, people are working to make the River Beane healthier for nature. There are plans to change the weir. In its current state, the weir makes it hard for fish to move freely up and down the river. Modifying it will help fish with their fish migration, allowing them to travel to different parts of the river to lay eggs or find food.
