Longbridge Mill, Sherfield-on-Loddon

Whistler Family Miscellany
Scenes from Basingstoke and the Area

Longbridge Mill, Sherfield-on-Loddon, Hampshire

The Hampshire Mills group gives some highlights of Longbridge Mill ,
and a history of Longbridge Mill .
Longbridge Mill is mentioned in a history of Sherfield-on-Loddon ,
Hampshire, Vol. 4, Victoria County History.

Longbridge Mill, Sherfield-on-Loddon early 1900s
photograph by Philip Osborne Collier
(collection of the The Museum of English Rural Life , University of Reading).

A description of Longbridge Mill was given in a notice of an auction sale for property at Sherfield, held at Basingstoke on 30 May 1826. On 20 May 1826 the Berkshire Chronicle (British Library Newspapers online) advertised the property:
A capital water corn mill, called Longbridge Mill, with an excellent well-built
sashed dwelling-house, containing five bed rooms, two parlours, kitchen and
convenient offices, together with 24A. 0R. 35P. (more or less), of meadow and
arable land, held by Mr. Thomas Hasker, under two several leases which expire
at Michaelmas, 1840. Subject to a land tax of 3l. 15s. 8d.
The mill was equipped with new ‘iron machinery’ at the time of a sale notice printed in Jackson's Oxford Journal on 13 May 1843 (British Library Newspapers online):
To Millers, or for Investment
To be let or sold, with immediate possession,
A water-corn mill, with commodious residence, garden, orchard, and 24 acres
of rich land, &c. most conveniently and agreeably situate on the high road
between Basingstoke and Reading, eleven miles from the latter and five from
the former – a Railway Station. The iron machinery is all new, and will
grind 200 quarters weekly, in ordinary time. The premises are free from floods,
and the supply of water to the Mill is at all time abundant. –
For particulars apply at Longbridge Mill, Sherfield-upon-Loddon; or at
Messrs. Cole, Brooks, and Lamb’s Office, Basingstoke.

Selected documents about Longbridge Mill, Sherfield-on-Loddon, Hampshire,
from the Hampshire Record Office (HRO) online catalogue.
10 Sep 1546 (HRO 44M69/D1/15/18/1)
"Marriage settlement by lease for 12 years of a mill house, garden,
wheat and malt mill at Longbridge, Sherfield-on-Loddon, from
Robert Puttenham of Sherfield-on-Loddon to Robert Downes of Basing
on his marriage to Mary Puttenham".
01 Apr 1825 (HRO 12M49/A65/21)
Lease for 14 years of Longbridge Mill, Sherfield-on-Loddon:
(i) Thomas Hasker
(ii) John Rogers of Hartley, miller and mealman
15 May 1830 (HRO 12M49/A65/23)
Sub lease of Longbridge Mill by John Rogers to Edward Vines of Reading
04 Apr 1842 (HRO 74M75/E/T89)
Document names Frederick Eggar, son of George Eggar of Longbridge Mill,
Sherfield-on-Loddon, miller
25 Dec 1844 (HRO 12M49/A65/25)
Lease of Longbridge Mill and lands for 14 years:
(i) Paynton Pigott Stainsby Conant of Archer Lodge, Sherfield-on-Loddon, esq
(ii) William Stone
16 Nov 1853 (HRO 12M49/A65/26)
Lease of Longbridge Mill and lands for 21 years:
(i) Paynton Pigott Stainsby Conant of Archer Lodge, esq
(ii) Charles Portsmouth of Eastrop, miller

Millers named in selected directory listings for Sherfield-on-Loddon.
Kelly’s Post Office Directory of Hampshire, Wiltshire, and Dorsetshire,
1855 (Google eBook).
George Smith, miller at Longbridge Mills
Edward Vines, miller & maltster
William White’s Directory of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight,
1859 (Historical Directories, University of Leicester Special Collections Online).
Charles Portsmouth, corn miller, Longbridge Mill
Edward Vines, corn miller and maltster
Harrod & Co.’s Directory of Hampshire & Isle of Wight,
1865 (Historical Directories, University of Leicester Special Collections Online).
Charles Portsmouth, miller
Mr Edward Vines
William White’s Directory of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight,
1878 (Google eBook).
Gay Webb, corn miller, Longbridge Mill
Mr Edward Vines, The Green
Kelly’s Directory of Hampshire & Isle of Wight,
1898 (Historical Directories, University of Leicester Special Collections Online).
Mrs. Fanny Lailey, miller (water), Long Bridge Mill

Census Returns

Census returns, maintained by The National Archives, can be viewed at the Ancestry family history website.
Note: In the 1841 census, the age was rounded down to the nearest five for those aged 15 or over.
Note: Place names are in Hampshire unless otherwise stated.
Edward Vines, miller of Sherfield-on-Loddon in census returns

Name Age Occupation Born in County?

1841 census – Sherfield-on-Loddon Reference: HO107/386/12 (folio 3, p. 1)

George Eggar 55 Mealman Y

Samuel Eggar 25 Y

Elizabeth Eggar 15 Y

Jane Eggar 20 Y

Note: the census form does not name Longbridge Mill as the address, but from a document in the Hampshire Record Office George Eggar was a miller at the mill.

Name and relation to
Head of household Marital
Status Age Occupation Birth Place

1851 census – Longbridge Mill, Sherfield-on-Loddon Reference: HO107/1681 (folio 330, p. 3)

William Stone Head Married 56 Farmer, corn dealer
100 acres of land
employing 8 labourers Liss

Sarah Stone Wife Married 50 Crondall

Sarah Stone Daughter Unmarried 19 Eversley

Eliza Grace Servant Unmarried 19 General servant Hartley[-Wespall]

John Brooker Servant Unmarried 24 General servant Hartley[-Wespall]

Notes: On 12 March 1853 the Berkshire Chronicle (British Library Newspapers online) gave the death notice:
March 6, at Longbridge Mill, Sherfield, Hants,
Mr. William Stone, aged 58 years.
The will of William Stone, miller and mealman of Longbridge Mill, Sherfield-on-Loddon, Hampshire was probated in the PCC on 20 April 1853.
William Stone’s daughter Sarah became engaged to the new miller Charles Portsmouth. A marriage notice was printed in the Reading Mercury on 25 August 1855 (British Library Newspapers online):
On the 20th instant, at Sherfield-upon-Loddon, by the Rev. W. Eyres,
Mr. Charles Portsmouth, of Longbridge Mill, second son of
Mr. E. Portsmouth of Eastrop Farm, to Sarah, only daughter
of the late Mr. Wm. Stone of the same Mill.
The daughters of Charles and Sarah Portsmouth baptised at Sherfield-on-Loddon were
(Hampshire Genealogical Society Baptism Index 1842–1874, CD):
Sarah (28 Oct 1857),
Ellen (11 Nov 1858),
Catherine (26 Sep 1861) and
Clara (28 Feb 1864).

1861 census – Sherfield Village, Sherfield-on-Loddon Reference: RG9/710 (folio 82, p. 3)

Charles Portsmouth Head Married 36 Miller employing 5 men,
2 boys Eastrop

Sarah Portsmouth Wife Married 29 Eversley

Sarah Portsmouth Daughter 3 Sherfield

Elizabeth Fielder Servant Unm 15 Servant Weston

Richard Willis Servant Unm 17 Servant Hazeley Heath

James Willis Servant Unm 13 Servant Swallowfield, Wiltshire

Notes: The census form does not name Longbridge Mill as the address. However, White’s directory of 1859 named Charles Portsmouth as the miller at Longbridge Mill.
History of the Portsmouth Family in census returns.

1871 census – Longbridge Mill, Sherfield-on-Loddon Reference: RG10/1236 (folio 91, p. 1)

Gay Webb Head 24 Miller employing 7 men Church Oakley

Nora Webb Mother Widow 62 Stratton

Harriett Wade Servant Widow 59 Housekeeper Upton Grey

Mary A Ward Servant Unm 17 Servant Sherfield-on-Loddon

1881 census – Longbridge Mill House, Sherfield-on-Loddon
Reference: RG11/1256 (folio 85, p. 15)

Gay Webb Head Unmarried 32 Corn miller employing
4 millers 3 carters 1 boy Church Oakley

Norah Webb Mother Widow 73 Annuitant Stratton

Sarah Stewart Sister Widow 51 Annuitant Church Oakley

John Clarke Nephew 13 Scholar Thatcham, Berkshire

Mary Draper Servant Unmarried 19 General domestic servant Sherfield

1891 census – Longbridge, Sherfield-on-Loddon Reference: RG12/959 (folio 67, p. 1)

Charles Lailey Head Married 45 Miller Waltham, Berkshire

Charlotte Fanny Lailey Wife Married 40 Brimpton, Berkshire

Edith Fanny Lailey Daughter Single 21 Telegraph clerk Sherfield-on-Loddon

Charles Henry Lailey Son 11 Scholar Sherfield-on-Loddon

Francis William Lailey Son 7 Scholar Sherfield-on-Loddon

1901 census – Longbridge Mill, Sherfield-on-Loddon Reference: RG13/1110 (folio 71, p. 1)

Fanny Lailey Head Widow 49 Corn dealer & miller Brimpton, Berkshire

Charles Henry Lailey Son Single 21 Corn miller Sherfield-on-Loddon

Francis W Lailey Son Single 17 Carpenter Sherfield-on-Loddon

1911 census – Longbridge Mill, Sherfield-on-Loddon Reference: RG14/6295 (schedule 1)

Fanny Lailey Head Widow 60 Miller & Dairy Brimpton, Berkshire

Martha Lailey Daughter Single 38 Home work & Dairy Sherfield-on-Loddon

Kate Lailey Daughter Single 36 Home work & Dairy Sherfield-on-Loddon

Charles Henry Lailey Son Married 31 Corn miller Sherfield-on-Loddon

Margaret Ann Lailey Daughter-
in-law Married 28 Inverness, Scotland

Harold Aldourie Lailey Grandson 2 Sherfield-on-Loddon

Online resources for the history of mills and milling:
The Mills Archive Trust .

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Revision date: 2016