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Olton Mill

N

notingram

New Member
Hi,

I was wondering if anyone knows what happened to the old Olton Mill? near Solihull.
"Walter Wellings Leslie Smith" a miller/corn factor and family were listed as owners/occupants on the 1891 census record, and 1901 they were living at Lode Lane. I read somewhere that most mills were no longer in use shortly after 1890? Just wondering if anyone knows the history?
Thanks
 
A friend of mine lives in Bramcote Drive, I bet his unaware that on the corner was an old mill. I will tell him when I next see him, and show the photo, thanks Mike
 
Walter Wellings Leslie smith was from my family. Can't tell you much about the mill but can tell you a bit about him.
 
My 4xgreat grandmother Hannah Morton (nee Gossage b1794)) lived here in the early 1800s with her husband (John Morton) who was a miller and malster. She was born in Birmingham (her father- William - was a licensed victualler at the Kings Head in Moore's Row behind what is now the Stratford Road in Digbeth or Deritend. Her mother was Dorothy (nee Haddock). I believe the location was called Load (yes, that's right - Load not Lode) Heath Pleck.
 
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Mikejee: The photo of Olton Mill submitted by MBenne on 2nd September 2019 was posted a long time ago, I know. Do you have a date when that photo was taken, please? Hannah and John Morton lived there in the early to mid 1800s.
 
Flossiefoster
The photo you refer to looks like it is a postcard image. Dp not know date, but would guess (without much confidence) anytime 1890 - 1930
 
mikejee said:
Flossiefoster
The photo you refer to looks like it is a postcard image. Dp not know date, but would guess (without much confidence) anytime 1890 - 1930
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Thank you for your prompt reply. I have a photo (the windmill building is in better shape but it doesn't have sails) but there is no date on it.
 
flossiefoster said:
My 4xgreat grandmother Hannah Morton (nee Gossage b1794)) lived here in the early 1800s with her husband (John Morton) who was a miller and malster. She was born in Birmingham (her father- William - was a licensed victualler at the Kings Head in Moore's Row behind what is now the Stratford Road in Digbeth or Deritend. Her mother was Dorothy (nee Haddock). I believe the location was called Load (yes, that's right - Load not Lode) Heath Pleck.
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how interesting flossie...thanks for sharing that with us

lyn
 
Pedrocut said:
Olton Mill near Solihull, Warwickshire, creator: Bernard Moore. 1897.
(Birmingham Archives and Collections)


View attachment 216449

View attachment 216451
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I don't think this windmill has any connection with the Lode Lane mill shown in post #10. The layout of the land is wrong as the area around Lode Lane Mill is relatively hilly whereas this windmill is in fairly flat open countryside. After a bit of digging I discovered that St Bernard's Road was named Windmill Road prior to 1872 but renamed after the seminary which was being built. However I haven't yet located a map showing an actual windmill in this area. I also found a reference to a manor recorded in 1086, with a notable mill (Olton End Mill) and early links to the Olton Golf Club.
 
jukebox said:
I don't think this windmill has any connection with the Lode Lane mill shown in post #10. The layout of the land is wrong as the area around Lode Lane Mill is relatively hilly whereas this windmill is in fairly flat open countryside. After a bit of digging I discovered that St Bernard's Road was named Windmill Road prior to 1872 but renamed after the seminary which was being built. However I haven't yet located a map showing an actual windmill in this area. I also found a reference to a manor recorded in 1086, with a notable mill (Oltonhan End Mill) and early links to the Olton Golf Club.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much, Jukebox, for that. I have always puzzled over the Olton Mill and the Lode Heath Pleck which I believe was somewhere around Lode Lane. As far as I can see from sketch map provided on the page that the mill would be opposite the Mill Pool and garage now on Lode Lane.
 
jukebox said:
I don't think this windmill has any connection with the Lode Lane mill shown in post #10. The layout of the land is wrong as the area around Lode Lane Mill is relatively hilly whereas this windmill is in fairly flat open countryside. After a bit of digging I discovered that St Bernard's Road was named Windmill Road prior to 1872 but renamed after the seminary which was being built. However I haven't yet located a map showing an actual windmill in this area. I also found a reference to a manor recorded in 1086, with a notable mill (Olton End Mill) and early links to the Olton Golf Club.
Click to expand...
Thank you, Pedrocut. I have one of the postcard photos (heaven knows where I bought it from but it was years ago) of the Load (that's how it was spelt) Heath Mill. From the information I found when I searched about the mill on Lode Lane (Solihull library years and years ago - before computers were an everyday tool) I was told it was near Seven Star Road at the Lode Lane end. So I agree that it's very likely that there were two mills and not just one. Thanks for your help.
 
Interesting ! Post 10 shows what looks to be a postcard marked Olton Mill, Loade Lane Olton. Post 11 from the Archives says Olton Mill near Solihull, but does not show the mill but a windmill.

Looking again at the description the only other relevant info that I can see is that the windmill was “Last worked about 1878.”
 
jukebox said:
I don't think this windmill has any connection with the Lode Lane mill shown in post #10. The layout of the land is wrong as the area around Lode Lane Mill is relatively hilly whereas this windmill is in fairly flat open countryside. After a bit of digging I discovered that St Bernard's Road was named Windmill Road prior to 1872 but renamed after the seminary which was being built. However I haven't yet located a map showing an actual windmill in this area. I also found a reference to a manor recorded in 1086, with a notable mill (Olton End Mill) and early links to the Olton Golf Club.
Click to expand...
Yes, the link between St Bernard's Road and Olton End Mill sounds right.
 
The 1841 census has William Vere living at Olton Mill.
The listing is:
Moat House
Olton Mill
Olton End (which comprises several proeprties)
 
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