A range of outhouses in an architectural style which echoes that of Castle Mill. (1)
Grange Farm contains some of the remains of the Robinsons Grange Mill where the first steam engine (for cotton spinning) may have been located (see below). (2)
The outbuildings here seem to have been the offices and warehouses of Grange Mill, where the first Boulton & Watt steam engine to provide power for the cotton industry was installed in 1786 (see below). (3)
Old Mill - a stone building 100ft long and 5 storeys high, built by Robinsons and finished by 1778. "New Mill" built nearby, larger than Old Mill. Most buildings demolished. 2nd Boulton and Watt engine installed here, 1791 (see M5288 for 1st, at Lower Mill). (4) (5)
In the 1770s the use of cotton was beginning to increase and linen was beginning to gradually fall away. The Robinsons moved in the direction of cotton spinning. A new mill was needed and land north of Walk Mill (already leased) was chosen. This Mill was called Top Mill. A third mill, Lower Mill, was built to the south of Old Mill. last Mill, Nither Mill (later known as Forest Mill) stood on the same 'Paper Mill Lands' that had been George's first bleach-filed and was built by 1794.
George Robinson died 1798 and the business was carried on by James Robinson and his youngest brother John. James bought out his brother in 1806 and formed a new partnership with his two elder sons Frederick and James. After 1815 Fredrick left to join a local bank. James Robinson was left in charge helped by his younger brother George. They kept the business running, but disposed of it as a going concern 1821. (4)
By about 1785 the … Grange Mill had been erected. (6)
Watermill shown. (7)
Old Mill was at the centre of the enterprise and was situated where Papplewick Lido is now. The original wheel was 30ft diameter, later increased to 42ft diameter. Nothing remains other than remains of the water courses. Some idea of the style of the buildings can be seen in Grange Farm which was presumably the centre of the business. Extensive remains of watercourses and dams are north of the building site. (8)
See M2587 for Grange Cottages, M5288 for Lower Mill, M2588 for Castle Mill, M8948 for Papplewick Dam.
Locally Listed by Ashfield District Council (ADC Ref: 206) (9).
Heritage Impact Statement produced 2020 (10).

Data Held (Document). SNT2647.

(2), Ind Arch File

R. Sheppard, 2001, Moor Pond Wood, Papplewick: An Archaeological Desk-top Study (Unpublished document). SNT5146.

<1> Smith DM, 1965, The Industrial Archaeology of the East Midlands, pp 80 -90 (Published document). SNT1304.

Other Refs: p 272, ill p 204

<2> Reedman K, 1977, Pers Comm (Personal comment). SNT1180.

<3> Pevsner N, 1979, The Buildings of England: Nottinghamshire 2nd ed., p 289 (Monograph). SNT4.

<4> Assoc for Industrial Arch, 1986, Ind Arch Review (No 1), pp 37-55 (Article in serial). SNT181.

<5> Assoc for Industrial Arch, 1987, Ind Arch Review (No 2), pp 119-139 (Article in serial). SNT182.

<6> Thoroton Society, 1956, TTS, p 35 (Published document). SNT370.

<7> Chapman J, 1774, Nottinghamshire - approx 1in (Map). SNT550.

<8> Morley D, 1997, Corn and Cotton - Waterpower in Notts (draft), p 13 (Unpublished document). SNT1693.

<9> Ashfield District Council, Ashfield Local List (Document). SNT4755.

<10> Trigpoint Conservation and Planning, 2020, An Archaeological and Heritage Assessment: Grange Farm Cottages, Grange Gardens, Papplewick, Nottinghamshire (Unpublished document). SNT5200.

<11> John Samuels Archaeological Consultants, 1994, The Historical Water Management of the Mills on the Rivers Leen & Erewash (Unpublished document). SNT5726.

<12> Historic England, 2021, National Record of Historic Environment (Digital archive). SNT5271.