The following list of watermills in County Durham is not to be seen as a complete list of watermills in the county. Other parts of the north east are given on separate pages.
The list is sorted by the closest place of a reasonable size. Searching by the mill name may also help locate a particular mill. First dates are first known dates; NK: Not Known
Nearest Place | Mill Name | Grid Reference | River/stream | Use(s) | First Date |
Aycliffe | Aycliffe Mill | NZ286226 | River Skerne | Corn | NK |
Aycliffe | Aycliffe Paper Mill | NZ286222 | River Skerne | Paper | NK |
Aycliffe | Brafferton Mill | NZ285215 | River Skerne | Corn | NK |
Aycliffe | Holme Mill | NZ285218 | River Skerne | Corn | NK |
Barnard Castle | Demesnes Flax Mill | NZ057155 | River Tees | Flax | NK |
Barnard Castle | Demesnes Mill | NZ053158 | River Tees | Corn | NK |
Barnard Castle | Egglestone Abbey Mill | NZ064151 | River Tees | Corn, paper | NK |
Barnard Castle | Lendings Mill | NZ055155 | River Tees | Paper | NK |
Barnard Castle | Saw Mill | NZ048161 | River Tees | Saw | 1827 |
Barnard Castle | Thorngate Mill | NZ049161 | River Tees | Corn | 1827 |
Barnard Castle | Ullathorne’s Mill | NZ046165 | River Tees | NK | NK |
Beamish | Beamish Corn Mill | NZ221550 | Beamish Burn | Corn | 1739 |
Beamish | Beamish Hall Mill | NZ214548 | Beamish Burn | Corn | 1277 |
Beamish | Beamish Water Pump | NZ224539 | Beamish Burn | Pumping | 1820 |
Beamish | High Forge | NZ226543 | Beamish Burn | Corn, Forge, Files | 1720 |
Beamish | Low Forge | NZ226539 | Beamish Burn | Fulling, Forge | 1717 |
Beamish | Middle Forge | NZ225541 | Beamish Burn | Bark Mill/Forge | 1730 |
Beamish | Mutton House Mill | NZ218551 | Beamish Burn | Fulling | 1720 |
Beamish | Pockerley Flint Mill | NZ225545 | Beamish Burn | Corn, Fulling, Saw, Flint | 1180 |
Bedburn | Bedburn Mill | NZ101316 | Bedburn Beck | Bleach, Woollen, Saw | 1408 |
Bedburn | Harthope Mill | NZ108322 | Harthope Beck | Corn | NK |
Bedburn | Shull Saw Mill | NZ093335 | Saw | NK | |
Bishop Auckland | Deanery Mill | NZ216283 | River Gaunless | Corn | C17? |
Bishop Auckland | Foundry | NZ202298 | River Wear | Cotton printing, Foundry, Fulling, Spinning | 1300 |
Bishop Auckland | Gaunless Mill | NZ213299 | River Gaunless | Corn | pre 1647 |
Bishop Auckland | West Mill | NZ203299 | River Wear | Corn | 1183 |
Bournmoor | Floaters Mill | NZ311508 | Lumley Park Burn | Corn | 1659 |
Bowes | Bowes Mill | NY992133 | River Greta | NK | NK |
Bowes | Gilmonby Hall | NY992132 | River Greta | NK | NK |
Bowlees | Howgill House waterwheel | NY901282 | Howgill | NK | NK |
Bradbury | Bradbury Mill | NZ315285 | River Skerne | NK | NK |
Brancepeth | Primrose Side Mill | NZ239415 | River Deerness | Bleaching | NK |
Brancepeth | Sleet Burn Mill | NZ234417 | River Deerness | Corn | 1747 |
Brignall | Brignall Mill | NZ046112 | River Greta | Corn | NK |
Burnopfield | Leap Mill | NZ175572 | Leap Mill Burn | Corn | NK |
Butterknowle | Gaunless Mill | NZ114255 | River Gaunless & Grewburn | Corn | 1818 |
Butterknowle | Grewburn Mill | NZ110256 | Crow Howl Beck & Grewburn Beck | Corn | NK |
Chester-le-Street | Chester Mill | NZ272517 | Chester Burn | Corn | C11? |
Chester-le-Street | Furnace | NZ255510 | Cong Burn | Blast Furnace | 1745 |
Chester-le-Street | Whitehill Paper MIll | NZ255513 | Cong Burn | Paper | mid C19 |
Chilton | Windlestone Mill | NZ275293 | Rushyford Beck | Corn | NK |
Coatham Mundeville | Coatham Mundeville Mill | NZ291207 | River Skerne | Flax, Corn | NK |
Cockfield | Lands Mill | NZ132251 | River Gaunless | Corn | NK |
Copley | Copley Smelt Mill | NZ085250 | River Gaunless | Lead smelting, Brick & tile? | 1770 |
Cornforth | Cornforth Mill | NZ316348 | Cornforth Beck | Corn, Paper | C11? |
Cornforth | Thingford Mill | NZ303351 | Thinford Beck | Paper, Corn | 1813 |
Cotherstone | Cotherstone Mill | NZ016200 | River Tees | NK | NK |
Cotherstone | Doe Park Mill | NZ007201 | River Balder | NK | NK |
Cowshill | Burtree Ford Mill | NY853405 | Killhope Burn & Sedling Burn | Corn | 1818 |
Cowshill | Killhope Lead Mining Centre | NY826424 | River Wear | Lead Mining | 1828 |
Coxhoe | Mill | NZ332353 | Coxhoe Beck | Fulling, Corn | 1250? |
Croxdale | Butterby Mill | NZ277374 | Croxdale Beck | Fulling, Paper, Worsted | 1739 |
Croxdale | Croxdale Mill | NZ272378 | Croxdale Beck | Corn | 1575 |
Croxdale | Paper Mill | NZ273373 | Croxdale Beck | Fulling, Paper | 1658 |
Daddry Shield | Pinfoldhouse Mill | NY894378 | Daddryshield Burn | Corn | 1820 |
Darlington | Blackwell Mill | NZ283131 | River Skerne | Corn | NK |
Darlington | Great Burdon Mill | NZ317167 | River Skerne | Corn | NK |
Darlington | Houghton-le-Skerne Mill | NZ313158 | River Skerne | Corn | NK |
Darlington | Mill | NZ292145 | River Skerne | Woollen | NK |
Delves | Knitsley Mill | NZ119481 | Knitsley Burn | Corn | NK |
Denton | Denton Mill | NZ218189 | Tennement Beck | Corn | NK |
Durham | Abbey Mill | NZ271420 | River Wear | Corn | C12 |
Durham | Bishops Mill | NZ274427 | River Wear | Corn, Ice | 1754 |
Durham | Crook Hall Mill (lower) | NZ274431 | Corn | 1636 | |
Durham | Crook Hall Mill (upper) | NZ274432 | Corn | 1636 | |
Durham | Fulling Mill | NZ272421 | River Wear | Fulling | C12 |
Durham | Kepier Mill | NZ282433 | River Wear | Corn | 1244 |
Eastgate | Eastgate Mill | NY953389 | Rookhope Burn | Corn | 1595 |
Ebchester | Ebchester Mill | NZ102556 | River Derwent | NK | NK |
Ebchester | Ebchester Poss Stick Mill | NZ103558 | River Derwent | Poss Stick | NK |
Ebchester | Ebchester Woollen Mill | NZ103557 | River Derwent | NK | NK |
Edmondsley | Edmondsley Mill | NZ225495 | Cong Burn | Corn | 1828 |
Eggleston | Blackton Mill | NY992248 | Eggleston Burn | NK | NK |
Eggleston | Blackton Mill (New) | NY997253 | Eggleston Burn | NK | NK |
Eggleston | Great Eggleshope | NY978298 | Eggleshope Beck | NK | NK |
Eggleston | Little Eggleshope Mine | NY988313 | Little Eggleshope Beck | NK | NK |
Eggleston | Wire Gill Mine | NY978306 | Wire Gill | NK | NK |
Evenwood | Evenwood Mill | NZ157260 | River Gaunless | Corn | C12 |
Fishburn | Mill | NZ362313 | River Skerne | NK | NK |
Forest in Teesdale | Slate Pencil Mill | NY848295 | Tees | Slate pencils | NK |
Forest in Teesdale | Waterwheel | NY786315 | NK | NK | |
Frosterly | Broadwood Mill | NZ038364 | Bollihope Burn | Corn | 1827 |
Gainford | Gainford Mill | NZ184163 | River Tees | Corn | NK |
Great Lumley | Lumley Forge Mill | NZ300508 | Lumley Park Burn | Forge, Charcoal, Barley | c1783 |
Hamsterley | Beckside Mill | NZ119300 | Linburn | Corn | NK |
Hamsterley | Beckside Mill (old) | NZ119301 | Linburn | Corn? | NK |
Hamsterley | Podgehole Mill | NZ090291 | Linburn | Corn | NK |
Hamsterley Mill | Ewhurst Mill | NZ151556 | Paper | NK | |
Hamsterley Mill | Hamsterley Mill | NZ145563 | Pontburn | Corn | NK |
Hamsterley Mill | Lintzford Paper Mill | NZ150572 | River Derwent | Paper | NK |
Hamsterley Mill | Steelclose Mill | NZ145567 | Pont Burn | Corn | NK |
Harwood | Ashgill Head Mine | NY808355 | Springs | Lead Mine | NK |
Harwood | Lady’s Rake Mine | NY806343 | Springs | Lead Mine | NK |
Hawthorn | Hawthorn Mill | NZ418452 | Hawthorn Burn | Corn | NK |
Hett | Hett Mill | NZ292369 | Croxdale Beck | Corn, Paper | 1168 |
High Coniscliffe | High Coniscliffe Mill | NZ228153 | Ulamby Beck | Corn | NK |
Howden-le-Wear | Beechburn Mill | NZ169321 | Beechburn Beck | Corn | NK |
Hunwick | Furness Mill | NZ199332 | River Wear | Corn | 1827 |
Hury | Hury Dam | NY967195 | River Balder | Electricity | NK |
Ireshopeburn | Blackdean Crushing Mill | NY868388 | River Wear | Ore crushing | NK |
Killerby | Killerby Garths | NZ190197 | Killerby Beck | NK | NK |
Kirk Merrington | Merrington Mill | NZ270295 | Rushyford Beck | Corn | 1550 |
Lanchester | Coldpike Mill | NZ157455 | River Browney | Corn, (Bleaching?) | 1710 |
Lanchester | Coldpike Old Mill | NZ156543 | River Browney | Bleach, Fulling | NK |
Lanchester | Greencroft Mill | NZ157493 | Corn | 1827 | |
Lanchester | Lanchester Mill | NZ164478 | Corn | C11? | |
Lanchester | Low Mill | NZ141444 | Pan Burn | Corn | post 1818 |
Lanchester | Low Mill (old) | NZ142444 | Pan Burn | Corn | 1768 |
Lanchester | Patrick’s Close Mill | NZ143449 | River Browney | Corn | NK |
Lanchester | Woodlands Sawmill | NZ122462 | Rippon Burn | Saw | 1838 |
Langdon Beck | Cow Green Mine | NY811306 | Springs | Lead mine | NK |
Langdon Beck | Dubby Sike Mine | NY795320 | Springs | Lead Mine | NK |
Langdon Beck | Greenhurth Mine | NY778326 | Springs | Lead mine | NK |
Langley Moor | Langley Mills | NZ257407 | River Browney | Paper | 1777 |
Langley Park | Langley Mill | NZ194459 | River Browney | NK | NK |
Langley Park | Wallnook Mill | NZ215453 | River Browney | Corn | 1772 |
Low Dinsdale | Fishlocks Mill | NZ352098 | River Tees | NK | NK |
Low Dinsdale | Spa Wells | NZ349102 | springs | NK | NK |
Mickleton | Grassholme Mill | NY929215 | River Lune | Corn | NK |
Mickleton | Mickleton Mill | NY965245 | River Lune | NK | NK |
Middleton St George | East Middleton Farm | NZ365116 | springs? | Corn | NK |
Middleton-in-Teesdale | Coldberry Mine | NY942290 | Hudeshope Beck | Lead mine | NK |
Middleton-in-Teesdale | Corn Mill | NY947256 | Hudeshope Beck | NK | NK |
Middleton-in-Teesdale | Lodge Sike Mine | NY955294 | Hudeshope Beck | NK | NK |
Middleton-in-Teesdale | Low Skears Crushing Mill | NY947273 | Hudeshope Beck | Ore Crushing | NK |
Middleton-in-Teesdale | Middleton Quarry | NY947247 | Springs | NK | NK |
Middleton-in-Teesdale | Quarry Workshop | NY948247 | Springs | NK | NK |
Middleton-in-Teesdale | Saw Mill | NY947258 | Hudeshope Beck | Saw | NK |
Nevilles Cross | Moorsley Banks Mill | NZ253426 | River Browney | Fulling, Corn, Paper | C12 |
Nevilles Cross | Relly Mill | NZ256419 | River Browney | Fulling, Paper | 1326 |
Nevilles Cross | Stonebridge Mill | NZ259412 | River Browney | Corn, paper | NK |
New Lambton | New Lambton Mill | NZ316507 | Lumley Park Burn | Corn? | NK |
Newton Aycliffe | Ricknall Mill | NZ293238 | River Skerne | Corn | NK |
Newton Hall | Priory Mill | NZ296471 | River Wear | NK | NK |
Peircebridge | Piercebridge Mill | NZ208155 | River Tees | NK | NK |
Peterlee | Mill | NZ409388 | Casle Eden Burn | NK | NK |
Piercebridge | Carlbury Mill | NZ220157 | Piercebridge Beck | Corn | NK |
Plawsworth | Plawsworth Mill | NZ265476 | Blackdene Burn | Corn | 1818 |
Ramshaw | Jamieson’s Mill | NY951474 | Bolt’s Burn | NK | NK |
Ramshaw | Mill | NY931477 | Nookton Burn | NK | NK |
Ramshaw | Waterwheel | NY953477 | Bolt’s Burn | lead mining? | NK |
Redworth | Middridge Grange Mill | NZ243243 | Woodham Burn | NK | NK |
Rookhope | Rookhope Mill | NY938429 | NK | NK | |
Rookhope | Smelt Mill | NY926429 | Rookhope Burn | Lead smelting | 1726 |
Satley | Satley Mill | NZ119438 | Steeley Burn | Corn | 1324 |
Sedgefield | Hardwick Mill | NZ333300 | NK | NK | |
Sedgefield | Missmall Mill | NZ361274 | Shotton Beck | Corn, Forge | NK |
Sedgefield | Sedgefield Mill | NZ360279 | Shotton Beck | Corn | NK |
Shadforth | Sherburn East Mill | NZ335413 | Shadforth Beck | Corn | 1818 |
Sherburn | Hallgarth Mill | NZ320435 | Coalford Beck | Corn | C12 |
Sherburn | Sherburn House Mill | NZ319418 | Sherburn Beck | Corn | 1181 |
Shincliffe | Shincliffe Mill | NZ297414 | Corn | 1355 | |
Shotley Bridge | Shotley Bridge Mill | NZ091529 | River Derwent | NK | NK |
Shotley Bridge | Shotley Grove High Mill | NZ085519 | River Derwent | Paper | NK |
Shotley Bridge | Shotley Grove Low Mill | NZ087521 | River Derwent | Paper | NK |
Shotley Bridge | Sword Mill | NZ091528 | River Derwent | Sword making, Corn | NK |
Sockburn | Sockburn Mill | NZ350076 | River Tees | NK | NK |
Spennymoor | Mill | NZ264334 | Corn | NK | |
Staindrop | Lodge Farm | NZ087222 | Langley Beck | NK | NK |
Staindrop | Staindrop Mill | NZ127207 | Langley Beck | Corn | NK |
Stainton | Streatlam Grange Mill | NZ070199 | Old Mill Gill | NK | NK |
Stanhope | Stanhope Hall Mill | NY990395 | Stanhope Burn | Corn | NK |
Stanhope | Unthank Mill | NY994391 | River Wear | Fulling, Corn | 1595 |
Stanley | Causey Mill | NZ205549 | Beamish Burn | Corn | 1540 |
Stanley | Harperley Mill | NZ177532 | Kyo Burn | Corn | NK |
Thorpe Threwles | Blakeston Mill | NZ407238 | Thorpe Beck | Corn | NK |
Tudhoe | Tudhoe Mill | NZ254356 | Valley Burn | Corn (Paper?) | 1279 |
Urpeth | Urpeth Forge | NZ235542 | Beamish Burn | Fuling, Forge | 1748 |
Urpeth | Urpeth Mill | NZ242547 | River Team | Corn | 1365 |
Urpeth | Urpeth Oil Mill | NZ249553 | River Team | Oil? | NK |
Urpeth | Urpeth Papermill | NZ231539 | Beamish Burn | Paper | 1801 |
Ushaw | Bricket Tile Works | NZ212426 | River Deerness | NK | NK |
West Auckland | Broom Mill | NZ193262 | River Gaunless | Corn | 1622 |
West Auckland | Holm Mill | NZ171267 | River Gaunless | Corn | 1724 |
West Auckland | West Auckland Mill | NZ182264 | River Gaunless | Corn, Forge | 1300 |
Westgate | High Mill | NY906383 | Middlehope Burn | Corn | 1647 |
Westgate | Low Mill | NY907380 | Middlehope Burn | Corn | 1818 |
Whitton | Bishopton Mill | NZ379224 | Whitton Beck | Corn | NK |
Winston | Alwent Mill | NZ145184 | Langley Beck | Corn | NK |
Witton-le-Wear | Fitches Mill | NZ147299 | Linburn Beck | Corn | c1380 |
Wolsingham | Blanket Mill | NZ068372 | River Wear | Woollen | NK |
Wolsingham | Bradley Low Farm | NZ105363 | Bradley Burn | Farm Use | c1900? |
Wolsingham | Bradley Mill | NZ105364 | Bradley Burn | Corn | early C19 |
Wolsingham | Briggs Foundry | NZ074370 | River Wear | Forge | NK |
Wolsingham | Demesne Mill | NZ075375 | Waskerley Beck | Corn | C11? |
Wolsingham | Humble’s Forge | NZ077372 | River Wear | Corn, Forge | NK |
Wolsingham | Mill | NZ067372 | River Wear | Corn | NK |
Wolsingham | West Mill | NZ070372 | River Wear | Corn | NK |
Woolsingham | Holebeck Mill | NZ059369 | River Wear | Corn | 1773 |
Wycliffe | Wycliffe Mill | NZ116143 | River Tees | NK | NK |
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This is a fascinating website, thank you! You may be interested to know that Hardwick Mill in Sedgefield is mentioned in the parish’s Bishop’s Transcripts in 1773 as the home of Hannah Meggison, wife of Robert (the miller), who was buried on May 7 that year. They are my 6x great grandparents.
Hi, I’m curious, would you know any details about the Hardwick Mill, and what exactly they were milling and who for? Thanks if you can give me a reply! I’m doing a dissertation on local history.
While I have no detailed history of the mill it is likely that it was a corn mill, milling mainly wheat, oats and barley (often other things too). It appears on the 1860s Ordnance Survey by name but with no use given. By the 1890s it is shown as disused.
Hi Sebastian, I haven’t yet gone into much more detail myself yet. But thanks to nemills for that information. I’ll pop back if I do unearth anything.
trying to locate Green Burn Mill, Lyneslack area. Could be that the hand writing on the census is not clear. Ancestors the Robinsons lived and worked here until 1911.
I suspect this is the one listed under Butterknowle as Grewburn Mill above. The 1897 map of the area does not appear to show the mill as a working mill however.
Thank you very much!
Lanchester Mill was supplied with water from the Smallhope Burn.