Cobham Mill and Ham House

Cobham Mill

The riverside is probably the best known feature of Cobham and one which the Cobham Conservation Group has striven to preserve. The water mill has been a favourite subject of many artists and several photographs have survived which show the Mill in working order.

The Domesday Book records that there were three mills in Cobham, their total value being 13 shillings and fourpence (67p). Wooden watermills were prone to destruction by fire and flood and Cobham Mill was probably rebuilt in the early 14th century by the Abbot of Chertsey Abbey and partially or wholly rebuilt five times. In 1799 the mill was washed away in a flood and shortly after rebuilt, with an annex added in about 1822. This complex milled corn for about 100 years until ceasing to operate in the late 1920's. The main part of the mill was demolished in 1953 to permit road widening and the smaller annex left to deteriorate by storm and vandalism. The restoration of this mill was the principle objective of the Cobham Conservation Group, who formed the Cobham Mill Preservation Trust. Local volunteers and generous financial help from the local community and water authorities successfully restored the mill which reopened in 1993 and now demonstrates water milling to the public.

Across the road from the mill are buildings which once formed part of the milling complex, including The Old Mill House, the home of the miller in the 18th century (and possibly earlier) and Millwater Cottage, the home in the l9th and 20th centuries.

Ham Manor

Ham Manor is considered by some to be the best period house in Cobham, and one of the best Georgian houses in Surrey. Built about 1740 it has a well proportioned front of Flemish bond brick with original windows (unfortunately without their glazing bars) and a plain pedimented front doorway. The back elevation of the house has been altered by later rebuilding. Internally there is a plain staircase of the period: the panelling is unusual - with miniature pilasters supporting the capping. Several original shutters remain, most of which are steel-lined. There are two unusual steel-lined doors with ornament of beaten work, one dated 1743. There is an original powder closet at the top of the staircase and the cellar has some old doors with the original tee-hinges.

The name of this house is misleading. It was originally called Spencer House after William Spencer, who owned the house in the 18th century. The manor of Ham in Cobham may originally have been part of Ham in Chertsey and consisted of islands of property within the manor of Cobham.

In 1857 the house was conveyed by Richard Brown to William Worsfold, a farmer who died in 1875 leaving the house to his son, William Charles Worsfold, who in 1899 sold the house to Mrs. Newland, wife of Alexander Newland a local builder.

 

The Walk
Church Gate House | St Andrews | Church Stile House | The Old Bear | Cobham Mill | Cedar House | The Running Mare | Korea Cottages | Stile Cottages | Ash Ford Bridge | St Michaels | The Cricketers | The Plough