River Teise

Infobox_River | river_name = River Teise


caption = Lesser Teise nearing the River Medway near Yalding (Twyford Bridge) in the distance)
origin = Dunorlan Park in Tunbridge Wells
mouth = Major stream River Beult at Hunton, minor stream River Medway at Yalding

The River Teise (PronEng|tiːz, "tease", or IPA|/tаɪs/, "tice") is a tributary of the River Medway in Kent, England. It begins in Dunorlan Park in Tunbridge Wells. [ [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199899/cmselect/cmenvtra/477/477mem24.htm Parliament Publications, The source of the Teise. ¶13.] ] and flows eastwards through Lamberhurst, passing Bayham Abbey. Here the small River Bewl , on which is the reservoir Bewl Water, joins the Teise.

Unusually the Teise bifurcates 1¼ miles (2km) south west of the village of Marden, passing either side of a low ridge. The major (eastern) stream flows for about convert|4|mi|km before joining the River Beult at Hunton. The minor stream flows for about convert|5|mi|km to the River Medway at Twyford Bridge, Yalding, formerly the site of a double ford over both the Medway and Teise rivers. The Beult flows past Yalding, then also joins the Medway about convert|6|furlong|km below Twyford Bridge.

Watermills

The River Teise and its tributaries powered a number of watermills. From source to mouth they were:-

tandings Mill, Broomhill, Tunbridge Wells.

This was a corn mill, driven by an overshot waterwheel. A painting of the mill by Charles Tattershall Dodd (1815-78) can be seen in Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery.

Gloucester Furnace, Lamberhurst.

TQ 6615 3596 Coord|51.098352|0.373295|display=inline|format=dms

This furnace was built in 1695 by William Benge. In 1700 the owner was Samuel Gott. The furnace produces 200 tons of iron in 1717 and John Legas was working it in partnership with William Harrison. William Collins and George Matthews leased the furnace in 1782 but it ceased production c.1787. There was a boring mill marked on Budgen's map of 1795. [http://www.villagenet.co.uk/history/1543-ironmasters.html Villagenet] ] [http://www.wirgdata.org/searchsites2.cgi Wealden Iron Research Group] ]

Hoadly Forge, Lamberhurst.

TQ 6622 3617 Coord|51.100218|0.374390|display=inline|format=dms

Hoadly Forge was built in 1548 by Alexander Collins. It was sold by Stephen Collins to Richard Filmer in 1584. In 1614 it was owned by Sir Edward Filmer and leased to Thomas Sanders and Thomas Ballard. The forge was bought by William Benge in 1694. The railings around St. Paul's Cathedral were cast here.Kentish Fire, Chapter 6]

Furnace Mill, Lamberhurst.

TQ 661 361 Coord|51.100016|0.373308|display=inline|format=dms

This was a corn mill, the building of which survives today converted to a dwelling, devoid of machinery except the sack hoist. It was marked on Bugden's map of 1795 and the surviving building dates from c.1812 See Wealden Iron Research Group website entries for Gloucester furnace and Hoadley forge.]

Hope Mill, Goudhurst.

TQ 708 372 Coord|51.108518|0.440900|display=inline|format=dms

This corn mill has now been house converted. It latterly worked with two waterwheels. The original wheel against the mill building and the later one set away from the mill. Both wheels were breast shot. cite book | first = | last = Fuller & Spain| authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 1986| month = | title = Watermills (Kent and the Borders of Sussex)| chapter = | editor = | others = | edition = | pages = pp75-77| publisher = Kent Archaeological Society| location = Maidstone| id = ISBN 0 906746 08 6| url = ]

;The older wheel.Only the cast iron hub of this wheel remains, on a wooden axle of some convert|18|in|mmdiameter. The wheel had eight wooden spokes per side. This breast shot wheel was convert|13|ft|9|in|m|2 diameter by convert|6|ft|m|2 wide, with 48 floats mounted on a cast iron rim. This wheel drove three pairs of millstones by a layshaft.

;The newer wheel.This wheel was an overshot wheel, convert|9|ft|2|in|m|2 diameter and convert|9|ft|3|in|m|2 wide, constructed of cast iron, carried on an convert|8|in|mm diameter cast iron axle of an unusually long length, as it had to pass over the tail race of the other waterwheel.

Goudhurst Paper Mill.

TQ 716 392 approx Coord|51.126248|0.453270|display=inline|format=dms

This mill stood on the parish boundary of Horsmonden and Goudhurst. It was first mentioned in 1683, possibly replacing a fulling mill. Owners include George Culvin in 1716, Thomas West in 1725 and Edward Blackwell in the 1730s and 1740s. The mill had closed by 1755. [ [http://www.tonysing.me.uk/History/Paper/article.htm Tony Sing] ]

Marden Mill, Marden.

TQ 735 456 Coord|51.183177|0.483485|display=inline|format=dms

This mill was a corn mill on the Lesser Teise. It was a small timber framed building of three storeys, clad in white painted weatherboarding. The mill was driven by an overshot waterwheel.

Watermills on the tributaries

The watermills on the River Bewl are discussed in that article, other watermills on the tributaries were as below.

Benhall Mill, Frant

TQ 607 376 Coord|51.115034|0.296910|display=inline|format=dms

This corn mill stood on the site of an old furnace mill. The forge was working from 1557-1653 but disused in 1667. Benhall Mill was not marked on Budgeon's map of 1724. In 1803 the miller was Richard Jones, followed by his son Stephen until c.1845, the Christopher and Henry Smith in partnership until 1870, then Henry alone until 1887. The mill may have continued to grind for Benhall Mill Farm after this date. The remains of the mill were demolished in 1964. [http://www.sussexmillsgroup.org.uk/Water2.htm Sussex Mills Group] ]

Brookland Forge, Frant

TQ 618 349 Coord|51.090463|0.311403|display=inline|format=dms

This forge was sold by Humphrey Lewknor to John Barham in 1521. It remained in the Barham's ownership until it was abandoned sometime between 1629 and 1640. In 1574 Thomas Gresham leased the forge, and sub-leased it to John Carpenter. In 1610 it was leased to Thomas Saunders. There is evidence that the forge had an overshot waterwheel. The dam has been recorded as convert|65|m|yd long and convert|1.5|m|ftin high. [http://www.wirgdata.org/searchsites.cgi Wealden Iron Research Group] Enter name in search box.] [ [http://www.wealdeniron.org.uk/BullSer1/1-10LR.PDF Wealden Iron] ]

Verredge Forge, Frant.

TQ 621 352 Coord|51.093074|0.315818|display=inline|format=dms

This forge was also owned by the Barham Family. It was sold by Humphrey Lewknor to John Barham in 1521. It was leased by Christopher Darrell in 1573 and Thomas Saunders i 1610. The forge was last mentioned in 1642. The dam has been recorded as Convert|120|m|yd long and convert|3|m|ftin high.

Bartley Mill, Frant

TQ 632 357 Coord|51.097254|0.331741|display=inline|format=dms|name=Bartley Mill

Bartley Mill stands on the Winn Stream, just within the parish of Frant, Sussex. Once the property of Bayham Abbey, it last worked commercially in the 1900s and was restored to working order in 1990. In 1851 the miller was Leonard Latter. The Arnold family were millers here before taking Branbridges Mill, East Peckham in 1890. The last recorded miller was John Ballard in 1905. The mill is open to visitors by appointment. [ [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~shebra/latters_in_frant.htm Rootsweb] ] [ [http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/espenett/pafhtmd/ballard/pafg09.htm Ballard] ]

Triggs Mill, Goudhurst

Glassenbury Mill, Goudhurst

Bedgebury Forge, Goudhurst.

TQ 727 357 Coord|51.094471|0.467300|display=inline|format=dms

The site of this forge was destroyed by the construction of the Hawkhurst Branch.

Bedgebury Furnace, Goudhurst.

TQ 730 347 Coord|51.085396|0.471101|display=inline|format=dms

The site of this forge is marked by the Great Lake at Bedgebury. It lay on the parish boundary of Goudhurst and Cranbrook. It was owned by Sir Alexander Culpeper in 1574 and let to Sir Richard Baker in the second half of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. It was let to John Dunnednoll in 1610 and in 1637 John Browne was working the forge - there was a dispute about the felling of wood for use at the Iron Works. George Browne was working the forge in 1657. The forge was disused by 1664, when it was then repaired, but unoccupied again in 1680. [ [http://www.millsarchive.com/Kent/cranbrookstale/cranbrookstale.aspx Mills Archive] ]

Brenchley Furnace, Horsmonden

TQ 695 412 Coord|51.144844|0.424227|display=inline|format=dms

An old site, the Furnace Pond remains today, having an area of some convert|30|acre|ha. The dam across the valley is some convert|140|yd|m in length. the head available being some convert|30|ft|m|2'.

This furnace was first mentioned in 1574, when the owner was Thomas Bartell or Brattle. In 1579 it was leased by Henry and Thomas Darrell to Thomas Dyke, with Brattle having an interest in the property. In 1588 the furnace was leased by William Ashburnham and sub-leased to Thomas Johnson, a gun-founder. In 1596 the furnace was owned by Sir Thomas Waller, and leased to John Iden and Robert Pothill. The furnace was leased by Thomas Browne in 1604 and later by John Browne, who held the office of King's Gunfounder from 1615 to 1681. Some 200 men were employed at the furnace in 1613. The furnace was working to at least 1667 and in 1744 there was a boring mill run by one Harrison.cite book | first = | last = F C Clark| authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 1947| month = | title = Kentish Fire| chapter = | editor = | others = | edition = | pages = Chapter 6| publisher = Adams & Son| location = Rye, Sussex| id = | url = ] [http://www.villagenet.co.uk/highweald/villages/brenchley.php Village Net] ]

References

ee also

Medway watermills article