[Name TQ 59314292] Brokes Mill [NAT] (1)

Along the western side of the Frith woods there runs a stream which comes from Speldhurst, and about midway here, turns a gunpowder mill. It is situated at a place called Old Forge-farm, from its being in Queen Elizabeth's time an iron foundry, subject to her use and directions. (2)

Old Forge, Southboro' Forge. Associated by author with furnace at Vauxhall - see TQ 54 SE 3. Probably one of two forges recorded in 1574 as belonging to Sir Thomas Fane and worked by Davy Willard. The forge pond was later used for a powder mill and then a corn mill. The power forge cinder is in irregularly shaped masses with a rusty colour. Place-names: Cinderford, Forge Wood. Minepit field. Some foundations at TQ 59314292, in modern type brick represent the site of Brokes Mill (auth 1). Ponud bays with an intermediate bank represent the remains of two associated mill ponds to the immediate SE. All these features lay to the NW of the occupation road. The OS 3" map of 1799 shows the mill pond to be immediately SE of the occupation road and a group of buildings to the north and northwest is annotated 'Powder Mill'. The occupation road at this point runs on a causeway, probably once a pond bay. There is no trace of any buildings in this heavily overgrown area. It is concluded therefore that the powder mill and probably the forge mentioned in 1574 lay some 150.0m SE of the later corn mill. The approximate siting, at TQ 59444285 is the central point of the powder mill buildings shown on OS 3" 1799. A very slight scatter of cinder is visible in the field to the immediate NW of Brokes Farm, area formerly called 'Cinder Field' (See 6"). The farmhouse of Old Forge Farm (at TQ 59474294) has been demolished. The surviving farm buildings are modern. (4)

No change.(5)

TQ 594428 Old Forge, Southborough - water powered. Scatter of forge cinder; all other traces obliterated during construction of railway viaduct. Built by David Willard in 1553 this forge was one of two being worked by him in 1574. The owner was Sir Thomas Fare. Between 1623 and 1679 it was worked with Vauxhall furnace (TQ 54 SE 3). There is a risk of confusing this forge with those of Postern (TQ 64 NW 16) and Rats Castle (TQ 64 NW 8) (6)

Corn mill was in use until 1932, then sold and demolished for scrap (for #5). 2 mill cottages, north east of Brokes Mill Farm House were demolished in 1948. (7)

Additional Information (8-10).

<1> OS 6" 1898 (OS Card Reference). SKE48313.

<2> Hist of Kent 5 (1798) p.197 (Hasted) (OS Card Reference). SKE43926.

<3> E Straker, 1931, Wealden Iron, Wealden Iron 1931 p.222 (E Streaker) (Monograph). SKE7720.

<4> F1 EG 22-MAY-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42869.

<5> F2 ASP 28-JAN-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE43183.

<6> Cleere, H. Crossley, D. (et al), 1985, The Iron Industry of the Weald, The Iron Ind of the Weald 1985 347(H Cleere and D Crossley) (Monograph). SKE6385.

<7> KARU record form TW 61 (OS Card Reference). SKE45598.

<8> D Garrod W Kent Field Officer 24.10.80 (OS Card Reference). SKE39552.

<9> Field report for monument TQ 54 SE 5 - May, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE2730.

<10> Field report for monument TQ 54 SE 5 - January, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE2731.