Emscote Mill
Emscote Mill, the site of a watermill built in the Imperial period. After 1850 it was driven by steam, and then by electricity. The site is now under housing.
1 Built on the N bank of the canal in 1806. It was operated by the firm of Kench and Sons, in conjunction with Rock Mills, until 1961. Excess water from the canal was used to drive an overshot waterwheel. This was replaced by a steam engine in the 1850s. In 1905 the mill was completely rebuilt and modernised. From 1918 the mill was driven by electric motors. The mill closed in 1961. The machinery was removed and the building converted into a pie factory.
2 The pie factory was demolished a few years ago, and has now been replaced by housing development. The factory was immediately adjacent to the road and the canal, on the SE side of the road bridge over the canal.
- For the sources of these notes, see the
- Timetrail record
- produced by the Historic Environment Record.
Comments
Hi my name Gary I worked at Fleur de Lys, from 1986 till 90. Loved the place, we were like family everyone knew each other, I worked in the faggot and rissole room, making up the condements, preparing the food, meat for mixer and so on. Some times I would work making the steak and kidney pies as well as mixing and making the mushroom pies.
In my section I worked with ten other ladies, and some times I would work 12, 14 hours a day, but because we really enjoyed our work it just went so quick. Good memeries of that place and the people in it. By the way I met the owner once, lovely chap.
Emscote Mill was in our Kench line for several generations – first known owner in 1806 from my research was my great grand father x 3 Philip Kench (1780-1857). His son Philip Kench (1813-1882) , my g g father x 2. One of his sons Sheldon Kench operated as Kench and Son. Sheldon, Milton and Frank Kench – sons of Philip were mill owners/managers in Leamington, Banbury, Buckingham and Northampton- Muscott Mill. Frank Kench, my great grand father emigrated to New Zealand – arriving in 1907 – Paul Kench, Christchurch, NZ
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