Sherbourne Mill / grade II/ no wheel some gear <1>

This building is unusual for Essex both in its location and form. Originally there were two mills very near to each other, both run as part of the same venture and working the same stream – a brook of little significance, claimed to provide what was called a reservoir ‘bountifully supplied by abundant springs’ with a fall to both mills of nearly 35 ft. The upper of the two is reported to have been demolished in 1921. The lower (Shirburn) mill built around 1800 is of 3 storeys with a hoist loft, weatherboarded on a brick base and with a tiled roof. The overshot exterior wheel (rare to Essex) was removed in 1937.

No machinery except for two pairs of stones, one by H and C Collins, Melton and the other by Tinsley, Ipswich (Alderton and Booker, 1980). It was probably built in the later C18 as a deed of conveyance mentions Sherborn Mill in 1796 and 1816

Shirburn or Sherbourne Mill appears to have changed little, externally at least, since it was first listed in the mid 1960s. It remains in a ‘disused’ state and as such is one of a declining number of watermills in Essex that have not been converted to residential use. The present mill was built across an engineered watercourse that runs parallel to the Shir Burn and widens out immediately south of the mill to form a mill pond. This mill pond was needed to create a sufficient head and fall to the overshot wheel and was achieved by banking up the channel on its west and north sides, immediately to the south of the mill and widening it out to form a mill pond. Another mill pond built in line and associated with the demolished Upper Mill survives at a short distance up stream to the south. Further to the south is a sluice connected via a short cross channel to the Shir Burn which regulated the water flow to both mill ponds. The mill tail is culverted to the north of the mill, and emerges for a short length before disappearing below Mill Hill Road and the adjacent former GER Colchester line. Shirburn is a 3½ storey part brick and part timber framed and weatherboarded mill with a clay tiled gable ended roof aligned east-west and a two storey full length slate covered lean-to to the rear (south). A smaller single storey lean to built on the site of the former external waterwheel butts up against the western end elevation. The ground floor, built in red brick, has a central arch headed entrance flanked either side by similarly arched window openings. It supports a timber frame of two storeys, clad in feather-edge weatherboard. The arrangement of the fenestration is symmetrical across the façade with openings flanking either a taking-in door at first floor or a window and lucam at second floor. Vertical opening 4 x 3 sash windows are used across the front elevation while simpler four pane sashes are used in the not so visible end elevations. The central gable ended and weatherboarded lucam projects north from the facade and straddles the eaves line. It is supported on simple timber knees and is positioned to enable sacks to be hoisted onto an internal gantry floor set above/onto the wall plate. Modern rain water goods have been added and although the building appears to be maintained and in a fair, watertight condition, the exterior would benefit from some remedial attention.
A red brick two storey mill house with a hipped and slated roof lies immediately east of the mill. It has a three window range to the front with a central entrance and top hung sashes. A smaller hipped roofed extension with rounded angles projects to the north. A C16 timber framed Mill Cottage is also situated nearby.
Current Use: Disused
Condition: Fair but needs attention <2>