From the Archives

Probate valuation at Feniton Mills Ottery St Mary re: Herman Joseph Granger who died November 28th 1915.

We are fortunate to possess some old valuation books dating back to the early 1900’s, once the property of t d Hussey & Son – the firm of Honiton auctioneers that was in existence from 1777 until 1995. For the first 200 years the firm was in the control of the same (Hussey) family – this history to be the subject of a future article.

The records are handwritten field notes, which are not always easy to decipher. We have transcribed below a probate valuation at Feniton Mills, which is located near Fenny Bridges along the old A30, now a residential property. It gives a snapshot of the equipment, goods and chattels that would have been found in a working mill at that time. It is interesting to note the value of what is clearly the most important feature of a mill – the mill stone and related gearing – which is valued at £80, more than 11% of the freehold property value.