New Low Head Turbine Installation Mapledurham Watermill South Oxfordshire

Between May and August 2011 Oxford Archaeology undertook an archaeological
watching brief during the removal of an early 20th century turbine installation and
the construction of a modern low-head turbine at Mapledurham Mill, Mapledurham,
Berkshire.
The watching brief observed details of the 1922 turbine installation, and several
phases of mill race construction associated with the 18th and 19th century
expansion of the mill. No in situ evidence was encountered for mill races or
structures pre-dating the 18th century mill. Elements from previous phases of the
mill's construction were recovered from ground raising dumps that had been used to
raise the ground level on the island to the south of the mill during the remodelling of
the southern mill race channel. This included fragments of a waterwheel, including
wooden parts and iron fittings, probably from the wheel that was removed in 1922.