Stoker Wilson's Family History Page
The Coxon Mills
The website for the Family History of Stoker & Lynn Wilson
The Mills of the Coxon family
Thrum Mill taken from a Valentines Postcard, 1921
The Coxons in the 19th century were a great milling family, spread over a large part of mid-Northumberland and concentrated around the Coquet valley.
This is a list of the mills I have been able to identify with some certainty. In some cases they were the millers, in others they simply may have been employed at a mill.For a lot more information about the Coxon Mills and millers see:-
- The North East Mills site
- In particular Mike Skinsley's page.
- See also The Coxon Club, a page about the Coxon millers.
Hint: To see the places listed on a Google map click on a geo location. It's probably best to view the location in Satelite View since some of the sites are off the beaten track.
- Overgrass Mill and Greens Farm 55.322813,-1.772440. North East of Longframlington. Today it is a ruined shell.
Overgrass Mill was the home of William Coxon, and several members of his family. William's family seem to have laid much of the foundation for the large milling clan at this time. His son John went on to mill at Weldon Bridge. His son William went on to mill at The Thrum. Son Robert continued to work the farm and mill at Overgras. Whilst son George became an innkeeper in Alnwick. - Stanton Mill (55.194817,-1.797938). On the river Font South of the present Stanton Village and West of Longhorsely.
Stanton Mill was the home of Isaac Coxon, his son Henry Coxon and the birthplace of John Coxon, my great grandfather. Today it is a heap of stones, barely recognisable but you can still see the course of the mill race cutting off a bend in the river. - Houndene Mill (55.353678,-1.630798). Near Warkworth.
Houndene Mill was the home of Henry Coxon after he moved from Stanton Mill, and the boyhood haunt of John Coxon, my great grandfather. It has been converted to a dwelling house. - Weldon Mill (55.280405,-1.785418). On the river Coquet at Weldon Bridge, South of Longframlington.
Weldon Mill was the home of several generations of Coxon families including John Coxon. It has been restored as a private dwelling. The mill wheel has been retained but it's not a working mill. - Brinkburn Mill (55.278633,-1.816961). On the river Coquet, just West of Weldon Bridge.
William Coxon appears to have moved around a lot in various mill settings. In 1851 Servant at Brinkburn Mill and cartman in 1861. Cartman at Plessey Mill in 1871. - Cartington Blue Mill (55.334729,-1.936684). This reference is a bit of a guess, the exact site of the mill does not seem to be marked on the 1868 OS map, but it must have been on the Spout Burn just East of Cartington homestead.
In 1821 a John Coxon died here. - Kirkley Mill (55.084244,-1.741741) some miles north on Ponteland on the river Pont. The site of the Mill is clearly maked on the series OS map dated c 1865. It appears to be just East of the groups of buildings marked on that map as "Tile Works", on a stream which may no longer exist.A John Coxon is recorded on gravestone as having died at Kirkley Mill.
- Felton Mill (55.294347,-1.713803). On the river Coquet. The Mills complex has been converted into modern dwellings.
Robert Coxon appears to have moved from the Thrum mill to the mill at Felton between 1861 & 1871.
- Thrum Mill (55.308330,-1.894391). On the river Coquet just East of Rothbury.
The Thrum mill seems to have been one of the bigger mills on the Coquet and appears to be the home of several generations of Coxons. It has been renovated and converted into a private dwelling. William Coxon worked and died there in 1844. His son William also died there in 1837 at just 30 years of age. His daughter Jane married William Orr and carried on the business after his death. - Abberwick Mill (55.420276,-1.807787).
The Coxon family seems to have only a brief connection with Abberwick, one Thomas Coxon is noted in the 1901 census as having been born there. - Thirston Mill (55.292716,-1.699048), SE of Felton on the Thirston Burn. Google.
A Walter Coxon was recorded in the 1861 census as an unmarried 64yr old corngrinder at East Thirston. - Ogle Mill (55.100988,-1.791918). This is the site on the Ogle Burn marked on the 1868 OS map.
In 1861 Thomas Coxon is listed as miller here. - Bilton Mill (55.400702,-1.659659). Just West of Lesbury in a loop on the river Aln. The site is marked on the 1868 OS map.
Edward Coxon lived and worked as a farmer and miller at Bilton Mill for many years. His brother Robert joined him late in life from South East Mason Farm. - Plessey Mill (55.110955,-1.629345). The modern Plessey Mill Farm site agrees with the series 1868 OS map.
William Coxon was here as cartman in 1871. - Snitter Mill (55.320137,-1.952611). Near Snitter, Thropton. The 1868 OS map shows a mill on the Back Burn just SW on Snitter village.
Isaac Coxon born at Stanton Mill was a mill worker for many years at Snitter mill working with a Robert Orpeth, his uncle. - Rothley Mill (55.178555,-1.930171) on the Hart Burn just South of Rothley hamlet and several miles West of Morpeth.
- Woolaw Farm (55.279732,-2.283955). Not a mill but a homestead for many generations of Coxons in Redesdale. Anthony Coxon seems to have been the last one before his son William moved eastwards to Overgras mill.