Mills on Box Brook Original words 1970 by Richard Hodges Republished July 2018
Photographs courtesy Carol Payne unless stated otherwise
Photographs courtesy Carol Payne unless stated otherwise
Richard Hodges published this walk in March 1970. He mentioned three of the mills, although we start at the demolished Cuttings Mill and include the medieval mill opposite Box Church. His walk in March 1970 said:
One of the nicest walks in the parish is that which follows the brook from Spafax (Box Mill now owned by Peter Gabriel) to Weavern Farm. Whatever the weather there is something unusual to see, in the worst weather conditions the tranquil pastoral scenery becomes wild but far from dreary, the brook ensures that.
Tithe Apportionment map 1840 (courtesy Wiltshire History Centre)
Cuttings Mill
The ancient mill was recorded as half a mill owned by Warner in the Domesday record, the other half on the opposite bank being owned by the King.
The ancient mill was recorded as half a mill owned by Warner in the Domesday record, the other half on the opposite bank being owned by the King.
Box Mill
Passing Spafax you are following the brook immediately and you will cross the weir which in times of flood you will appreciate as being a valuable factor in regulating the level of the brook. After crossing the tricky little footbridge, you enter the Ody's first meadow (George and Lucy Ody, farmers at Slades Farm) and you will immediately pass through a small patch of mole hills. The meadow is lower here than the brook and often the field is waterlogged without the brook actually overflowing
Passing Spafax you are following the brook immediately and you will cross the weir which in times of flood you will appreciate as being a valuable factor in regulating the level of the brook. After crossing the tricky little footbridge, you enter the Ody's first meadow (George and Lucy Ody, farmers at Slades Farm) and you will immediately pass through a small patch of mole hills. The meadow is lower here than the brook and often the field is waterlogged without the brook actually overflowing
Soon you come into the very open stretch of the field where the east winds blows violently; along this section of the brook Sandpipers are sometimes spotted in early spring, sometimes you may see one beneath the bridge at Drewett's Mill - it is easy to distinguish with its distinctive cry and the fleeting glimpse of buff under sandy wings as it dashes along the brook. In this open stretch the telegraph wires have taken the life of three herons in the last two years, which is very unfortunate. Often in early spring and autumn you will disturb a heron perched in one of the large trees on your left at the end of the first meadow. Or you might find his large footprint if the brook is very low, on the sandy bottom, halfway along the second meadow.
In this second meadow wild life abounds; I have seen Dabchicks on the brook in February, beautiful little Grebe who dive quietly and are lost mysteriously at the first sound of humans. In this field are blue and pink crane's-bills which crop up in the long grass in June and, in the boggy area to the left of the field, Ragged Robin grows. Water voles and occasionally Sand Martins live in the banks and once I found Otter tracks here.
In this second meadow wild life abounds; I have seen Dabchicks on the brook in February, beautiful little Grebe who dive quietly and are lost mysteriously at the first sound of humans. In this field are blue and pink crane's-bills which crop up in the long grass in June and, in the boggy area to the left of the field, Ragged Robin grows. Water voles and occasionally Sand Martins live in the banks and once I found Otter tracks here.
Drewetts Mill
You catch a glimpse of Drewetts Mill and often you will hear the heavy millstones working if the air is still; in summer the Martins and Swallows burble boisterously around the Mill when the brook has become shallow and both the birds and the rainbow trout dispute for the water insects. You veer off to the left at the end of this meadow and you will find the stile which enters onto a little country lane.
You catch a glimpse of Drewetts Mill and often you will hear the heavy millstones working if the air is still; in summer the Martins and Swallows burble boisterously around the Mill when the brook has become shallow and both the birds and the rainbow trout dispute for the water insects. You veer off to the left at the end of this meadow and you will find the stile which enters onto a little country lane.
Weavern Mill
If you want to venture on to Weavern you have to go down the lane and turn left up the lane to Colerne; the lane which forks right leads across the brook to Drewett's Mill and on up to the main road. Drewett's Mill is recorded in the Domesday book and the Romans might have built on the site. The present Mill is two hundred years old and still working for the local farmers.
Opposite Salt Box Farm is the stile to Weavern. The first meadow is often waterlogged as the river always appears very high here. The reeds on the opposite bank provide a good site for moorhens' nests unless there is a summer flood as there was in July 1968. There is a stile at the end of this meadow, next to it is a tree stump which harbours a colony of Sulphur Tuft fungi. On the other bank is a clump of beautiful Aspens which in June shelter a small colony of Yellow Flags amongst the reeds. The next meadow is very scrubby, but in one of the little ditches, always full of water, pond life abounds: tadpoles, sticklebacks, beetles and water scorpions, sometimes. It is peaceful along here and often there is a heron to be seen. At Widdenham you rejoin a road; once there was a ford immediately next to the stile, but progress has eliminated that. If you fork right, down to Widdenham Farm, and deviate from the footpath, you will see a barn on your left. In the eaves you may count thirty house-martins' nests some years, not all used but wonderful to watch on a warm July evening as the young are busily being fed. Under the porch of the farm which is facing you, several more nests are clustered around the light, and, if you walk to the bridge in the summer you will see Sand martins who nest in holes in the bank of the brook. The path leads up to Rudloe.
Retracing your steps to where you turned off, you should then continue on - very shortly - and go through a gate which is facing you, instead of following the track up to the barn which commands the valley. The path is indistinct here and you have to walk along the contours of the steep valley until you come to another gate. The brook is shallow where the sand and the pebbles peep through providing a lovely sight when the sun glistens on it. Sometimes cows venture into the river here when it is hot. Trees shade this bank and shortly, if you walk along here in June, you will behold some more Yellow Flags prior to a little wooden footbridge and a stile. You are now in a large meadow skirted by the brook on one side, which meanders wildly, and on the other side is an elongated copse usually full of bluebells in late April. Unfortunately, the wood on the steep opposite bank has been cut down and looks very bare at the moment, but fir trees are to be planted to replace them. Some people bathe in the river near the end of the meadow where a pool has formed after flowing through the narrow bridge, over which you must go to Weavern.
Weavern Farm stands before you, derelict and lonely. It is now used to house young cattle and hay. If you pass through the farm you will discover the path which leads you to Slaughterford through Colerne Park and on to Castle Combe, if you are energetic: it is a fine walk in Spring.
An alternative route back is to follow the track up the hill into the plantation and on up towards Rudloe Manor. The field before the road affords a magnificent view on a clear day. There are several paths through the wood but some are more difficult due to road-making in the plantation. The wood known as Collett Bottom Woods are full of flora and beautiful trees; beeches and chestnuts as well as larches are eminent. After the top pasture you go through a gate next to Weavern Cottages and along the road a little way until it bends; on the bend on your right is a bridle path down to Widdenham Farm, which gives another splendid view. Sometimes buzzards can be seen soaring from up here. The hedged track is a hiding place for several species of flora and butterflies. When you arrive at Widdenham you can retrace your steps to Drewetts Mill and on.
Items in italics not included in 2018 walk.
If you want to venture on to Weavern you have to go down the lane and turn left up the lane to Colerne; the lane which forks right leads across the brook to Drewett's Mill and on up to the main road. Drewett's Mill is recorded in the Domesday book and the Romans might have built on the site. The present Mill is two hundred years old and still working for the local farmers.
Opposite Salt Box Farm is the stile to Weavern. The first meadow is often waterlogged as the river always appears very high here. The reeds on the opposite bank provide a good site for moorhens' nests unless there is a summer flood as there was in July 1968. There is a stile at the end of this meadow, next to it is a tree stump which harbours a colony of Sulphur Tuft fungi. On the other bank is a clump of beautiful Aspens which in June shelter a small colony of Yellow Flags amongst the reeds. The next meadow is very scrubby, but in one of the little ditches, always full of water, pond life abounds: tadpoles, sticklebacks, beetles and water scorpions, sometimes. It is peaceful along here and often there is a heron to be seen. At Widdenham you rejoin a road; once there was a ford immediately next to the stile, but progress has eliminated that. If you fork right, down to Widdenham Farm, and deviate from the footpath, you will see a barn on your left. In the eaves you may count thirty house-martins' nests some years, not all used but wonderful to watch on a warm July evening as the young are busily being fed. Under the porch of the farm which is facing you, several more nests are clustered around the light, and, if you walk to the bridge in the summer you will see Sand martins who nest in holes in the bank of the brook. The path leads up to Rudloe.
Retracing your steps to where you turned off, you should then continue on - very shortly - and go through a gate which is facing you, instead of following the track up to the barn which commands the valley. The path is indistinct here and you have to walk along the contours of the steep valley until you come to another gate. The brook is shallow where the sand and the pebbles peep through providing a lovely sight when the sun glistens on it. Sometimes cows venture into the river here when it is hot. Trees shade this bank and shortly, if you walk along here in June, you will behold some more Yellow Flags prior to a little wooden footbridge and a stile. You are now in a large meadow skirted by the brook on one side, which meanders wildly, and on the other side is an elongated copse usually full of bluebells in late April. Unfortunately, the wood on the steep opposite bank has been cut down and looks very bare at the moment, but fir trees are to be planted to replace them. Some people bathe in the river near the end of the meadow where a pool has formed after flowing through the narrow bridge, over which you must go to Weavern.
Weavern Farm stands before you, derelict and lonely. It is now used to house young cattle and hay. If you pass through the farm you will discover the path which leads you to Slaughterford through Colerne Park and on to Castle Combe, if you are energetic: it is a fine walk in Spring.
An alternative route back is to follow the track up the hill into the plantation and on up towards Rudloe Manor. The field before the road affords a magnificent view on a clear day. There are several paths through the wood but some are more difficult due to road-making in the plantation. The wood known as Collett Bottom Woods are full of flora and beautiful trees; beeches and chestnuts as well as larches are eminent. After the top pasture you go through a gate next to Weavern Cottages and along the road a little way until it bends; on the bend on your right is a bridle path down to Widdenham Farm, which gives another splendid view. Sometimes buzzards can be seen soaring from up here. The hedged track is a hiding place for several species of flora and butterflies. When you arrive at Widdenham you can retrace your steps to Drewetts Mill and on.
Items in italics not included in 2018 walk.