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100 HISTORY OF CORN MILLING: vol. iv.
III.
DEE MILLS,
CHESTER.
19. Destruction
of Causeway
ordered,
1608.
Harl. MSS.,
2084. 183.
20. Public
Benefits,
1608.
Harl. MSS.,
2081. 216.
Text, ante,
p. 76.
navigation and the cause of floods doing damage to the
extent of ^100 per annum. This was quickly followed
by a second inquisition at Wrexham ; when, a similar
verdict being returned, the commissioners, " or some
of them," made a formal decree that a break ten yards
wide should be cut through the said causeway. This
simply meant its destruction and the ruin of the mills ;
and against the order Gamull appealed.
20. An inquisition was held by order of the Ex-
chequer at Chester, December 16, 1608, to enquire
into the affairs of the mills and the royal local estate
generally. During the considerably
enquiry, which was of a
detailed character, the " customs of Dee
Mills" (as already quoted in
full) were recited, and,
after various evidences, the jury presented a verdict
against the order of the commissioners being carried
out :—
They say there are standing upon
the north side of the said
river, under the walls of the said city of Chester, five corn mills
and one malt mill under two several roofs, in the possession of
Edmund Gamull, alderman, which, with certain fishings, are held of
his Majesty by knight service in capite and by the yearly fee-farme
of c^^, payable to George Cotton and Richard Cotton, esqs., and
their heirs. By which said mills so much of the said river is stopped
as is sufficient for the mamtenance of the said mills with water. The
inhabitants of the said city do for the most part grind their corn and
malt at the said mills with great ease to themselves, especially the
poorer sort, who usually grind their pecks and small portions of corn
without paying any toll for the same. And also the Company of
Bakers within the said city, being in number twenty householders
and above, that are sworn and bound to serve the city with sufficient
and wholesome bread, have their corn ground at the said mills every
market day after the said market is ended, so as the poor men having
small stock may make short returns thereof weekly and maintain,
themselves and their families, and serve the city with bread for their
necessary sustenance. And divers also that dwell in the hundred
of Wirrall and other places within the county of Chester, six, seven,,
and ten miles distant from the said city, do often grind their corn at
the said mills, and have been heretofore accustomed so to do ; by
reason they have very few watermills in Wirrall. Within which
time aiso great quantities of corn oftentimes during the late warsin
Ireland have been ground at the said mills and sent over in meal
into Ireland for the supply of the armies and garrisons there..