A DALE author’s efforts for a piece of Barnard Castle’s hidden heritage to be recognised has received the backing of town councillors.
The Demesnes Mill dates back to the 13th century, but Kay Wilson reckons many of the thousands of people who walk past it each year are unaware of its past.
Ms Wilson is campaigning for a blue plaque to be erected to highlight its place in history.
She told the story of the mill to members of Barnard Castle’s Town Council’s services committee earlier this month.
“The mill was built between 1210 and 1270 and was the first water mill built on the river Tees,” she said.
Ms Wilson said it was built by Hugh de Baliol at the foot of his land, the “Desmesnes” – the French spelling of the word – as Hugh was a descendant of Guy de Baliol, the French aristocrat who built the original wooden castle.
It began life as Lord’s Mill and over the centuries has been known as the Desmesnes Corn Mill, Water Mill, Mains Mill and Demesnes Mill.
“All corn milled there came with a fee stipulating that one part payment went to Lord Hugh Baliol, another part to the miller and a third part to the upkeep of the mill,” said Ms Wilson.
She said the grade II listed mill continued to work through the centuries.
“It had some restoration in 1825 and continued to be in use until 1934.”
Ms Wilson said the mill was part of a farm until the middle of the last century and is still standing as a residential property.
However, a reminder of its past is still there for all to see – the two large and two smaller mill stones are still outside the original entrance.
“Demesnes Mill stood the test of time in a rural area, surviving longer than other, bigger corn mills in County Durham when the Corn Laws were repealed in 1846.”
Ms Wilson told councillors: “I would like to see some recognition that we have a 13th century mill still there, such as a blue plaque on the side of the mill or close by.
“There is a wonderful one by the weir near the Silver Bridge.”
She added: “People will always stop there. It is just a place we are drawn to. We have some wonderful history in our town and this little part of it may not be forgotten, but people need to know how valued it is.”
Supporting Ms Wilson’s efforts, Cllr Pauline Connelly said: “If we don’t keep it alive, people will forget. To go that far back is fabulous. I have fished there.”
Ms Wilson responded: “It has always been there. It is part of the background.”
She said she was willing to donate £150 towards the cost of a plaque along with proceeds from her latest book Barnard Castle: Waterfalls, Weirs and Woodland Streams.
Mayor Cllr Rima Chatterjee said it was a project the town council could take forward and councillors agreed.
