Folly In Grounds Of Mill House Situated To West Of The Water Mill

The folly in the grounds of Mill House, located to the west of the Water Mill, likely dates from 1790 and is positioned on a hill overlooking the mill. To the left, there is a network of low flint walls topped with red brick. To the right, accessed by a steep bank, are three octagonal turrets. The leftmost turret is constructed of flint and brick in a chequered design, topped with a stone crocket and a ball finial. The central turret is truncated and made of flint and brick, while the right turret features a crenellated parapet and arrow-slit windows. Double-headed lancet windows are located to the right of this turret. On the far right, there is a summer house made of flint with stone dressings. Its rear wall displays a diaper pattern of stock brick and flint, with flint galleting. The inside of the front wall is lined with cockle shells, and it has a 'Gothic' painted arch with stone lights. A painted arch with stone quoins leads back into the hillside. Beneath the turrets and summer house are two chambers excavated from the hillside, both featuring round-headed brick entrances set in a flint wall and lined with brick. Air shafts extend upward, likely connecting to the turrets. The left chamber contains a small lead cistern dated 1790, part of a pump, while the other chamber has an ogee-headed arch at the end facing the entrance. These chambers were probably used for storing grain for the adjacent mill, indicating that the folly served both practical and ornamental purposes.