MILLS were essential to medieval estates to grind the grain for making bread. 

Domesday Book records the Abbey of Romsey owning three mills worth 25s and another mill worth 10s. 

Mills meant sets of mill stones, therefore the three mills might have only been two separate mill buildings but there were at least three mills in total.

The eastern channel of the Fishlake, often called the Holbrook, was certainly in existence by 1066 and this led to the site of the 'Town Mills', so it seems most probable that at least one of the Domesday mills was sited at what is now called Dukes Mill.

By the 14th century there are references to the Abbess's mill also called Town mill. In 1434 the manorial rolls record that: 'John More of Ashfold agreed to take the four mills of the convent, two in a building called Townmill & the other two in a building called Medmill'. 

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Duke's Mill fire 1968 (Image: Romsey Local History Society)

Mead Mill was just north of Mill Lane, Romsey. The two mill sites of 1434 could have been the same as two of those mentioned in 1086 but there is no proof. The rent John More had to pay for the four mills was about £10 plus 450 small eels and 30 large ones.

At the dissolution of the monasteries the Town Mill was acquired with many other abbey lands by John Foster. It continued in use as a corn mill, passing through many different ownerships. By the mid 18th century the Town Mill site and control of the watercourse serving it was held by the May family. In 1807 there was a complex legal dispute about the share of the water which was directed down the Fishlake from the Test at Greatbridge, by means of 'dowle stakes' within the water course.

In about 1935 Town Mill came into the hands of Mr Duke, miller, town councillor and mayor. The mill then came to be called Duke's Mill. In 1963 there was a fire at the mill but little damage done.

However, in 1968 a more serious fire largely destroyed the mill. It was decided to redevelop the area, the mill buildings were demolished and Dukes Mill shopping centre was built to provide retail outlets on the ground floor with flats above. 

This opened in 1975 but the retail outlets took time to be filled. Since then various retailers have used the premises and some of the flats have been much upgraded.