Abbey Mill in the late 18^th Century, one of the ancient mills of West Ham.

The mill went by several names: first known as Wiggen mill, then Honeredes mill, then Abbey mill. Christ's Hospital came into possession of Abbey Mill in the 1680s and owned it throughout the 18^th century. Samuel Ball was the Hospital's tenant as miller when this engraving was made. The smock mill stood on a small island in the Channelsea River. It was built in 1768 at a cost of £7,676. There was a water mill to the east of the site and this mill stood on the west, with a small engine house behind (the chimney of which can just be seen in this view). The mill burnt down in about 1861 or 62. It was rebuilt in 1863-4 as a tall brick structure. During the Second World War it was again burnt down and most of the ruins were removed when Abbey Road was straightened and a new bridge built.

This seemingly idyllic scene belies the fact that Samuel Ball had continual trouble with calico printers drawing off water just when he needed a good "head", and polluting the river with their dyes, and with coal and timber merchants damaging walls and locks and obstructing the river as they brought over-large barges up to their wharves. He complained to the Governors of the Hospital that he had spent £1,200 in 12 years on the maintenance of river walls "due to ill use by others."

This is a view of the mill from the marshes and is from an illustration in Fry's History of East & West Ham

Newham Heritage & Archives Ref 13/1/10 -AD18