Harthope Mill
Hartup Mill
Grid Reference NZ 1084 3220, 1km north west of Hamsterley, County Durham.
Harthope Mill From the north-west (from the side of the Harthope
Beck) 2nd October 2010
Identified by R.F. Tylecote as probably the site of the early
15th century Byrkeknott
bloomery and definitely the
site of a 14th/15th century bloomery. "As
late as 1828 this burn was known as the Harehope Burn, and the
mill as Hartup Mill, in the same document.'°
Plan of Harthope Mill from Tylecote "The location of Byrkeknott"
The location of Harthope / Hartup Mill within the valley of the
Harthope Beck
 Millpond |
 Millrace |
 Section through millrace bank |
The head of the millrace is possibly some six feet above the stream valley bottom. There must have been a (wooden?) leat connecting to a header pond connecting to the stream.
The Harthope Beck above Harthope Mill
Side of wheelpit showing ashlar masonry
The room to the south of the room excavated by Tylecote has a wall of ashlared stone to the north. The other side of the wall is random coursed masonry. It is assumed that this is one side of the wheelpit and that the other side has been demolished during the later construction of a byre. It can be seen how the rear wall butts onto the old wall of the wheelpit.
Notes
1 In 1828 "William Jopling, corn
miller, Hartup Mill"
History, Directory and Gazeteer of thecouties of Durham and ...,
William Parsons and Willliam White.
1856 "William James, Hartup Mill"
History, topography, and directory of the county palatine of
Durham ... By Whellan, William, & Co
2 Hartup Mill in 1891 census