1990

An old picture of the Mill

With its purchase in February 1990 of Arundell Mill House, Stroud Preservation Trust embarked on its fifth and most ambitious project to date. Bordered to the south by the River Frome, the one acre property includes the stone-built Mill House, an adjoining workshop, and two semi-detached cottages. All were in ruinous condition by the time they came to the Trust’s notice.

The house was obscured by invasive trees and plants and riddled with wet rot and furniture beetle. Gaping cracks in the walls widened visibly during the months the Trust was negotiating with the owner, who was persuaded to sell only after the Local Authority threatened to serve a Section 101 notice.

Arundel Mill Pond

There is thought to have been a mill on this site as early as the 14th century, but the first documentary evidence dates from 1585, when two fulling mills and a corn mill were granted to local landowner Richard Arundell. During the 17th century the complex included four mills and a dye house, and from 1837 until the early 1930s it specialised in dyeing. The house was requisitioned by the army during the Second World War, and the mills were demolished shortly thereafter.

The Mill House is thought to have been built in three stages. The central section is 17th century, with mullioned windows. The west end is Regency, and the east end of unknown later date and inferior construction. The self-contained rear wing seems to have been designed for warehouse or industrial use.

The Trust applied to the AHF in December 1989 for a loan of £175,000. Because of the overgrown condition of the site, it had not been possible to thoroughly inspect the structure of the buildings or prepare detailed plans and cost estimates. The AHF therefore, made a firm offer of £75,000 to assist with purchase, expressing support in principle for further loan in due course.

The Trust exchanged contracts for the property in January 1990 and the AHF’s £75,000 loan secured by a first charge, was contracted and paid in a single instalment on 23rd February to coincide with completion. Emergency work to prop the Mill House began later the same day. In June 1990 the Trust applied for an additional loan of £100,000, towards the cost of repairing and sub-dividing the house into three, its rear wing into two, and rehabilitating the cottages as two dwellings.

Listing Grade II
Conservation Area : Stroud Industrial Heritage

The restored Mill cottages

Financial Details