Tilty Mill

It seems incredible that we are about to witness the spoiling of the last intact Watermill in Essex. By spoiling, I mean conversion to residential use. Watermills are a neglected part of our heritage. No planner seems at ease with them; archaeologists seem woefully ignorant about them, and historians shun the important story of the mill's role in parish and district.

Tilty is a mid to late 18th century watermill which is currently grade 2 star listed (in the top 4% of listed buildings in the country) and is still intact and restorable at the moment.

It is one of the last original, intact and restorable watermills and as such is fully warranting its grade 2 star listing if not higher.

Its machinery is still as intact as the last day it finished milling in the 1950's.

The mill has however been allowed to fall into disrepair by its owner for the last 20 years and is now threatened with being lost forever as after thedeliberate neglect the owner is now seeking planning permission to convert the mill into residential with the proviso that he will 'restore' the building IF he is allowed planning permission to convert the mill to residential and a new build alongside it and make a healthy profit from this.

This will of course ruin the mill.

This application has been objected to by

• SPAB
• Essex Mills group
• Save Britains Heritage
• Ancient Monuments Society
• Council for British Archaeology
• Essex Society for History and Archaeology
• Campaign to Protect Rural Essex
• Essex County Council
• Tilty Parish Council
• Great Easton parish council

Also a local petition raised over 125 signatures and 31 official letters of objection were sent to Uttlesford District Council but somehow councillors voted through the planning application last week.

The fight to save Tilty Mill now goes to go east.

Your help is needed.

More information on ...Save Tilty Mill