Quy Mill - History

Quy is the most southern point of the great Fenland which stretches 80 miles from Lincoln to Quy.  This whole area was once covered in marshland, which has been gradually reclaimed over the years.  Originally Quy was spelt as "Coeia" meaning "Cow Island", eventually this Anglo Saxon name was replaced by the more Gaelic name of Quy as a result of the Norman Conquest.  The prefix "Stow-Cum" merely means, "Place with".

The Romans introduced the idea of water mills in England.  The Saxons contributed to their advancement.  The Saxons came from modern day Germany and Holland and settled in the East of England.  Then came the Normans who surveyed all of England for the Domesday Book in the year 1086, where Quy Mill is mentioned.

By the 17th Century, the manorial system of milling where the miller produced corn as the servant of the Lord of the Manor had been replaced and now millers were tenants leasing from landlords over long periods.  This arrangement justified capital investment in Mills as the millers were wholly responsible for production and were keen to be as efficient as possible, as a result of this the present Quy Mill and Miller's House was rebuilt in its current form around 1830.

In1851, the then owner, William Kent Collett, employed 19 men and had 600 acres in his possession; he was a Victorian entrepreneur and a product of Britain’s post industrial revolution.  He was responsible for the construction of the four substantial timber framed barns and cart sheds in the courtyard area.  Around 1948, coinciding with the introduction of electricity, the mill stopped flour production.

From then until the late 1970’s the Miller’s House was used for residential then business purposes, but the barns and the mill block were allowed to fall into disrepair.  In 1981 conversion of the properties into a hotel began, starting with the Miller’s House.  The present owners took possession in 1996 and working to English Heritage guidelines they have created a quality stylish and charming Grade II listed Hotel and country Inn with conference and banqueting facilities and a health club.