The Medieval Mills and Fishpond

Throughout the Middle Ages, the inhabitants of Wharram Percy practiced arable farming. The corn harvested around the village was ground into flour in water-mills, powered by the Wharram stream.

A reconstruction of the village in the late 12th century, showing the mill and pond in the foreground, by Peter Dunn © English Heritage Photo Library. In the 13th century, documents mention two mills to the north and south of the village, perhaps serving the North and South Manors. When the South Manor ceased to exist in the later 13th century, the south mill was also demolished.

Between 1972 and 1981, excavations revealed traces of a succession of clay mill-dams belonging to the south mill, dating from the 11th century onwards. These dams were pierced by water channels, over which the water-mills were built. Few remains were found of the mill buildings, but the mill-wheel is thought to have been mounted vertically on a horizontal axle.

After the abandonment of the mill, a higher clay dam was built and the area to the south was flooded to create a fishpond. After archaeological excavation in the late 20th century, the pond was cleaned out and the earth dam reconstructed, approximately following the layout during this period.