K.H. Rogers, in Wiltshire And Somerset Woollen Mills, published by the Pasold Research Fund Ltd., in 1976, noted:
Crockerton: Bull Mill
A clothier named Valentine Adlam was living in Crockerton in the early seventeenth century, and it is likely that he occupied this mill. In the later part of the century the mill was a meeting place for a group of Baptist nonconformists who later founded the chapel in the village. William Adlam, a clothier, took a new lease on lives of the fulling mill in 1732; he was succeeded by Samuel Adlam, also a clothier who went bankrupt in 1756. The mill, which drove four pairs of stocks, was offered to let, but Adlam remained in possession of the lease on lives until his death in 1768. It was then renewed to his son, Samuel, described as a fuller. To pay the large entry fine of £1,014 he apparently enlisted the financial help of a Warminster clothier, Daniel Capel, to whom the mill was assigned as security for a period.
The leasehold estate subsequently passed to a family called Rebbeck, who underlet the mill. One tenant was John Arnold, fuller, who made his will in 1789. He was succeeded by the partnership of Francis and Nathaniel Everett, clothiers, from c.1794 onwards, who no doubt rebuilt or added to the mill to use it for machinery. Francis Everett withdrew in 1800; Nathaniel carried on the business alone, but by 1814 he was in difficulties, and the property was advertised to let as a clothing mill, fulling mill and factory, with dye-house, drying stove and other convenient apartments. The main building was of three floors, 69 ft. by 19 and a half ft., and the fulling mill contained four pairs of stocks. It was claimed that the property could be enlarged because of the powerful and extensive head of water . In 1815, Everett finally went bankrupt and some of his effects were put up for sale; they included a press and plates, thirty pairs of shears, a timmeynog, a willey and a twisting (warping) mill.
Early in 1816, Nathaniel Everett died; he ‘filled his station in life with unswerved integrity and respect. During the latter part of his life he experienced a sad vicissitude in his affairs. A series of losses . . . plunged him into great distress which doubtless hastened his dissolution!’ He paid about 5s. in the pound; ten years later, his two sons, having been left £8,000 and £6,000 respectively by their uncle, paid his debts in full, leaving themselves, it was said, with only a few hundred pounds each.
The mill appears to have stood idle until 1823, when the machinery including two scribbling and three carding engines, three billies and fourteen jennies was offered for sale. The new tenants were the Ward family, long established silk throwsters at Bruton and other places in Somerset. They ran it in their trade, using a 22 h.p. wheel in 1833. The commissioners were impressed by the working conditions of the women and children there, and by the unusual care taken of them, including the provision of warm milk and water at breakfast times, and a lending library. At that time the mill was worked at night with a different set of hands.
In 1849 George Ridout Ward went bankrupt and the mill was offered for sale. The particulars show that Wards had added to or rebuilt it, for the main block was then of five storeys. A larger water-wheel of 30 h.p. had recently been erected at an outlay of nearly £1,000. The claim put forward that Wards had carried on business here continuously for fifty years, employing 200 hands, was evidently mistaken. The mill was taken over by the Jupe family of Mere, silk manufacturers, who ran it until the 1890s.
An engraving of the mill was included in the sale particular of 1849. The main block was of five storeys and eight bays, and apparently had windows of standard design. At one end of the roof was a small cupola for a bell. There were other two-storeyed buildings of considerable extent, and an octagonal school and dining room.
WRO, 845, lease books, estate papers, etc.;
Gunn, Nonconformity In Warminster;
WRO, 130/22;
SJ, 21.6.1756, 17.2.1800, 27.6.1814, 30.10.1815, 15.2.1816, 20.7.1818, 16.6.1823, 11.10.1826;
WRO Arch. Sarum, will of Jn Arnold, 1793;
WRO, 846/1.