Tutsham Mill (1860)

Extract from the Kentish Gazette, 13th March 1860:

WEST-FARLEIGH. Accident.—On Wednesday a serious accident happened to a boy named George Ashby, employed at the Tutsham Mills. He was, it appears, in the loft, and while gossiping with another boy inadvertently put his hand into some machinery at work near which he stood. The wheels so frightfully mangled the hand and wrist that amputation was found to be necessary. This was skilfully performed by Mr. Gould, of Wateringbury, the child, who is only twelve years of age, bearing it like stoic. Every care was taken of the poor fellow by direction of Mr. Duyck, the kind-hearted proprietor of the mill; and we are glad to learn that no evil symptoms have appeared.

Tutsham Mill was an linseed oil crushing plant on the banks of the River Medway opposite Teston Weir. It was often referred to as Wateringbury Oil Mill. The mill burnt down in 1885 and was not replaced and substantial ruins still remain there. In 2012 the Society published a booklet on Tutsham Oil Mill (59 pages with a large number of illustrations).