4th July 2007
This month we had the opportunity to do an all-night investigation at The Biscot Mill. Prior to the visit extensive research was done on the history of the site and this is detailed below.
To view the investigation notes click on the links below
Team 1 Report
History:
The Doomsday Book refers to the Biscot area as Bissopescote, which was known as The Kings Land. In 792 A.D King Offa of Mercia [Anglo-Saxon Kingdom] gave this 500-acre land to the first Abbot of St Albans (possibly either named Roger or John). A house was built on the land so the Abbot had a place of residence should he wish to visit his land. The name Biscot derives from the name ‘Bishopscote’ which means ‘Bishop’s House’. The area of this house is still noted today, with a road being named after its location, Bishopscote Road.
Human remains have been found buried on the site of the Biscot Mill in the past. There are many theories to why these burials exist there. A Neolithic long barrow is thought stood on the site of the Biscot Mill. Unfortunately, no traces exist due to extensive building works to the area. Others think they are remains of a battle but it is more likely that they are victims of disease such as small pox due to the regular placement of the bodies.
From the 13th to the 16th Century, two principal landowners occupied the site. From 1289 to 1400 the de Bereford’s occupied then from 1400 to 1548 the Acworth’s became the landowners. It is though that the Acworth’s made significant improvements to the de Bereford’s house in the form of extensions. There were thought to have been two large illustrious properties in the area in the 15th Century.
In 1844 a Smock Mill was built on the site and occupied by a Mr William Drewett. It was built to replace an earlier mill that was struck by lightning and burned down in 1841/1842. This mill had replaced another than fell down in 1831. The original deed for the mill goes back to 1710, when Lady Ann Wingate of Toddington owned the property. The area of the mill was known as ‘Mill Field’ when Lady Ann owned it, which shows there was a mill on the site previous to 1710. The smock mill was the last mill to stand and work on the site, but fell in to ruin and was demolished in the 1930s.
In 1925 evidence of a Saxon cemetery was found in nearby Argyll Avenue. Author William Austin (History of Luton and It’s Hamlets) and Thomas Bagshawe (Founder of Luton Museum) were able to carry out a small excavation and found evidence of more than 40 burials and at least three cremations. Many other burials were destroyed in the works without record but it is though that the cemetery extended westwards over the hill slope from as far as St Andrews Church to the Biscot Mill.
In 1958 the well known brewers Mann, Crossman and Paulin built the public house as can be seen today. The remnants of Luton’s oldest Windmill can still be seen to this day in the form of the millstones that are set into the flagstones at the front of the building. In the 1960s the Biscot Mill was a very popular venue for social functions. Wedding receptions were common and the Musicians Union held its monthly dances there. In the 1980s it became a carvery bar named ‘Barnaby’s Carvery’. For a space of time in the 1990s, the restaurant service of the pub became redundant but was soon up and running again with a popular choice of restaurant, ‘The Hungry Horse’.
References:
History of Luton by Frederick Davis, published 1855
History of Luton and Its Hamlets by William Austin published 1928
Pubs and Pints: The Story of Luton’s Public Houses and Breweries published 1995
English Heritage NMR (National Monuments Records)
The Story of Luton by J Dyer, F Stygall and J Dony published 1964
The Biscot Mill
To view more images see:
Biscot Mill Album
Team 3 Report
Team 4 Report
To view a video see:
Biscot Mill Cry