River Alne
Encyclopedia
The River Alne is a tributary of the Warwickshire
Avon
and has its headwaters to the north of Wootton Wawen
. The River Alne flows generally southwards before joining with the River Arrow at Alcester
, which itself joins the River Avon near Salford Priors
.
The River Alne is sufficiently large when it reaches Wootton Wawen to have provided the source of power for a mill (now disused) near the village of Great Alne
. It has four storeys with a wooden lucam (covered sack hoist); mostly 19th century. No water wheel remains; power was supplied by a turbine of German origin installed before 1914, replacing the wheel and installed in the wheel pit. A grain elevator and some flour dressing plant still remain but the roller mills have gone. Supplementary power was at one time supplied by a steam engine, which was replaced by a 2 cylinder oil machine; the latter was removed when mill closed.
The Spencer family (later Spencer Son and Hancox) had the mill from the 1870’s; in its heyday it employed 15 people, supplying flour to bakers and biscuit makers as far as Weston-super-Mare
. For local deliveries the firm had its own vans. It specialised in pig food and pigs were kept in pigsties (still present) to test the products. It ceased operation in 1966; the latest owner plans to restart milling using stones, not rollers.
Hoo Mill is also on the river between Great Alne and Alcester
. (Grid ref SP 107578) The most complete traditional water-mill in the area stands by the river in Haselor
parish; its has stone lower courses with brick above. An internal waterwheel is still in place and operational; a complete set of grinding machinery remains although this has not been used for corn grinding for many years; other machinery (kibblers, etc) are still in place and used occasionally as well as an external drive pulley which powers a circular saw. Three pairs of stones remain and a rare type of sack hoist mechanism with a device to disconnect the drive if a sack attempts to overrun; a flour dresser and oat crusher are still present. The mill was built 1810; at one time it was used for needle pointing but not for scouring; from the 1850’s the mill was held by the Morris family from whom previous owner, John Stewart, was descended. He generated his own electricity with a turbine until his death.
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
Avon
River Avon, Warwickshire
The River Avon or Avon is a river in or adjoining the counties of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire in the Midlands of England...
and has its headwaters to the north of Wootton Wawen
Wootton Wawen
Wootton Wawen is a small village and civil parish in the Stratford-on-Avon district of Warwickshire, England. The village is located on the A3400, from Birmingham, miles south of Henley-in-Arden and miles north of Stratford-upon-Avon. The soil is a strong clay and some arable crops are grown,...
. The River Alne flows generally southwards before joining with the River Arrow at Alcester
Alcester
Alcester is an old market town of Roman origin at the junction of the River Alne and River Arrow in Warwickshire, England. It is situated approximately west of Stratford-upon-Avon, and 8 miles south of Redditch, close to the Worcestershire border...
, which itself joins the River Avon near Salford Priors
Salford Priors
Salford Priors is a rural, agricultural village and civil parish about six miles south-west of Alcester, Warwickshire, England. It is on the Warwickshire border with Worcestershire....
.
The River Alne is sufficiently large when it reaches Wootton Wawen to have provided the source of power for a mill (now disused) near the village of Great Alne
Great Alne
Great Alne is a small village, known as Round Alne in the Middle Ages. It is situated seven miles north-west of Stratford-upon-Avon, three miles north-east of Alcester, and 15 miles from Warwick in the County of Warwickshire, England, on the road to Wootton Wawen via Little Alne. The name Great...
. It has four storeys with a wooden lucam (covered sack hoist); mostly 19th century. No water wheel remains; power was supplied by a turbine of German origin installed before 1914, replacing the wheel and installed in the wheel pit. A grain elevator and some flour dressing plant still remain but the roller mills have gone. Supplementary power was at one time supplied by a steam engine, which was replaced by a 2 cylinder oil machine; the latter was removed when mill closed.
The Spencer family (later Spencer Son and Hancox) had the mill from the 1870’s; in its heyday it employed 15 people, supplying flour to bakers and biscuit makers as far as Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare is a seaside resort, town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which is within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is located on the Bristol Channel coast, south west of Bristol, spanning the coast between the bounding high ground of Worlebury...
. For local deliveries the firm had its own vans. It specialised in pig food and pigs were kept in pigsties (still present) to test the products. It ceased operation in 1966; the latest owner plans to restart milling using stones, not rollers.
Hoo Mill is also on the river between Great Alne and Alcester
Alcester
Alcester is an old market town of Roman origin at the junction of the River Alne and River Arrow in Warwickshire, England. It is situated approximately west of Stratford-upon-Avon, and 8 miles south of Redditch, close to the Worcestershire border...
. (Grid ref SP 107578) The most complete traditional water-mill in the area stands by the river in Haselor
Haselor, Warwickshire
Haselor is a village in Warwickshire. It is by the River Alne, about 1 mile east of Alcester just off the A46 main road to Stratford-upon-Avon. The parish church is remote from the present houses, the old village having been demolished after an epidemic of plague...
parish; its has stone lower courses with brick above. An internal waterwheel is still in place and operational; a complete set of grinding machinery remains although this has not been used for corn grinding for many years; other machinery (kibblers, etc) are still in place and used occasionally as well as an external drive pulley which powers a circular saw. Three pairs of stones remain and a rare type of sack hoist mechanism with a device to disconnect the drive if a sack attempts to overrun; a flour dresser and oat crusher are still present. The mill was built 1810; at one time it was used for needle pointing but not for scouring; from the 1850’s the mill was held by the Morris family from whom previous owner, John Stewart, was descended. He generated his own electricity with a turbine until his death.