It is likely that there has been a mill on this site for centuries but despite this, no early images of the mill have been found. Although we have descriptions of the mill from some of the surveys that were carried out by St. Thomas’s Hospital, the earliest image we have dates from c. 1890 and shows the Peters family (from the neighbouring village of Orwell) standing outside the mill.
Below is a selection of photographs of the mill, outbuildings and house. The house was converted from the mill granary by the then owner, Miss Maud Bowen, in 1948. It was extensively renovated and extended by Andrew and Valerie Emerson in the 1980s, who also renovated the mill.
We have a section of the website devoted to Topcliffe Mill, where you will find lots of information and more photographs.
If you have any other photographs of Topcliffe Mill, please email us or add a comment to this page.
Please click on a thumbnail below to see a larger image.
From left to right, John Read (on cart), Johnnie Rayner, Herbert Peters, George Peters, Ethel Peters, Maria Peters, Maud Flack (maid), Mrs Dunkin (Maria's sister), c. 1890
Photograph supplied by Mary Course
Topcliffe Mill showing the mill pond, 1907 or earlier
Robert H Clark postcard supplied by Brian Clarke
Topcliffe Mill, showing the millpond. From a used postcard, postmarked 1922
Topcliffe Mill and granary, 1930s
Topcliffe Mill, 1930s
W M Palmer
Topcliffe Mill and granary, 1930s
Bell's postcard
Topcliffe Mill showing the mill pond, 1930s
Bell's Postcard
Topcliffe Mill, cottage (adjoined to mill) and outbuildings, 1930s
Cambridgeshire Collection
Topcliffe Mill and outbuildings, 1930s
Cambridgeshire Collection
Topcliffe Mill, c. 1949
E M Gardner, reproduced with kind permission of The Mills Archive Trust
Topcliffe Mill, c. 1949
E M Gardner, reproduced with kind permission of The Mills Archive Trust
Topcliffe Mill house, home of Miss Bowen, 1965
Meldreth WI
View of the house and mill, 1965.
Meldreth WI
Topcliffe Mill house, 1965
Meldreth WI
Topcliffe Mill house, 1965
Meldreth WI
Topcliffe Mill and the River Mel, 1965
Meldreth WI
Aerial view of Topcliffe Mill, 1970
Photograph supplied by Andrew Emerson
Topcliffe Mill, 1950-1980 (exact date unknown)
Copyright of the Mills Archive Trust (Arthur Lowe Collection)
View of the house, mill and river, 1973
Photograph supplied by Andrew Emerson
Topcliffe Mill house, 1983
Photograph by Andrew Emerson
Topcliffe Mill, taken from the south, 1983
Photograph supplied by Andrew Emerson
Topcliffe Mill and house, 1983. The small outbuilding on the right of the picture, adjoining the mill, was demolised in September 1983.
Photograph by Andrew Emerson
Topcliffe Mill and house, 1983
Photograph by Andrew Emerson
Topcliffe Mill House (west end) prior to the extensions, 1983
Photograph by Andrew Emerson
Topcliffe Mill House (east end) prior to the extensions, 1983
Photograph by Andrew Emerson
Topcliffe Mill and house prior to renovations and extensions, 1983
Photograph by Andrew Emerson
View of Topcliffe Mill showing a small outbuilding, soon to be demolished, September 1983
Photograph by Andrew Emerson
Topcliffe Mill following demolition of the outbuilding that had been attached to the mill, September 1983
Photograph by Andrew Emerson
Topcliffe Mill and house during renovations and extensions, October 1983
Photograph by Andrew Emerson
Removal of the thatch, December 1983
Photograph by Andrew Emerson
Removal of the thatch and extension of the house, December 1983
Photograph by Andrew Emerson
The house during extensions and building work, March 1984 Note the porch has been removed and the original front door blocked up
Photograph by Andrew Emerson
Topcliffe Mill and house, May 1984
Photograph by Andrew Emerson
Aerial view of Topcliffe Mill, 1985. The photograph was take after the house had been extended. The garages have been built, but not the outbuildings.
Photograph by Andrew Emerson
Topcliffe Mill and house, 1985
Photograph by Andrew Emerson
Aerial view of Topcliffe Mill, 1989
Photograph supplied by Andrew Emerson
Topcliffe Mill. 2007
Photograph by Kathryn Betts
Topcliffe Mill and the house, November 2011
Photograph by Kathryn Betts
"Then and Now" photograph: 1930s/2011
Created by Kathryn Betts
Topcliffe Mill, February 2012
Photograph by Kathryn Betts
Author
Kathryn BettsPage added
26/04/2011
Comments about this page
Can anyone tell me if Johnnie Rayner pictured outside Topcliffe Mill (c1890) is the same John Rayner living with Charles William and Isabel on the High Street in 1921. Also how Jim Rayner pictured in the Post Office (c1960) and Charles (Jim) Rayner the Postman are connected? Thanks.
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