Just S of the village of Eaton c 15 piles were pulled out of the R Idle by modern dredging and lie loose on the W bank of the river. The tops of 2 similar piles, 2m apart, can be seen at the river's edge directly opposite the loose piles and 122m S of Eaton Bridge. One has a 20cm diameter rubble stone lodged against it. The piles are all oak of round section or cleft into quarters. Many have well preserved sapwood with no worm holes. This suggests that green wood was used and the piles were immediately driven into the river bed. However 2 have dowel holes and one seems to have been rebated. These are probably re-used. Suggests a bridge, but no evidence of tracks - foundations of a mill dam, or the mill itself ? (1)
Dendro and radiocarbon dates on 4 samples from piles in river bed gave a date range of 1285 +/- 40 AD, therefore felled after 1300 AD. (2)
See M7513 for watermill.

<1> EMAB eds, 1979-82, East Midlands Archaeological Bulletin, p 32 (Published document). SNT164.

<2> Thoroton Society, 1982, TTS, p 76 (Published document). SNT395.