PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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Weston Mill derived its name from being the mill belonging to the tything of Weston Peverel, otherwise known as the parish of Pennycross. It was possibly the oldest mill in the Plymouth area as a deed of Geoffrey de Weston mentions Ham as being on the west side of the road from the mill. Furthermore, a 'Robert atte Mulle' was mentioned in the Devon Lay Subsidy for 1332 and the mill is said to have certainly existed in 1368. It is shown on the Siege Map of Plymouth of 1643.
A map extract showing Weston Mill
in relation to Pennycross Barton, at An interesting incident is recorded in the year 1684. The miller, Mr William Plyer, was accused by Plymouth Corproation of diverting the waters of the Plymouth Leat through Weston Peverell to the Mill. His friends intervened on his behalf and in view of his position of poverty, the Corporation accepted a fine of only £1. In the Parish Apprentice List a Miss Mary Thomas was named in 1714 for Lower Ham and Weston Mills and according to the Overseers' Book for 1764-65, a Mr Richard Voaden was paying rates of 2s 6d for it. At the time of the census in 1851, 33-years-old Mr James Boon was the corn miller, employing nine men. His wife, Maria, was 38 and they had a two-years-old son, William, who was born at Pennycross. In addition to a visitor from London, there were two man servant cum labourers, Richard and John Wills, aged 15 and 17 respectively, and two female house servants, Miss Susan Pascoe, 20, and Miss Eliza Knight, 16. Possibly one of the millers that James employed was a Mr William Rickard, the 14-years-old son of farm labourer, Mr Thomas Rickard, who lived nearby. Mr Benjamin Petherick or Pethick was the miller and wheelwright at Weston Mill from 1897 until 1919.
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