The Coppermill



According to the Doomsday book a mill of some kind has always existed near the present site. It was first recorded that a powder mill existed in 1647, there was subsequently a paper mill between 1653 and 1703, and a leather mill between 1710 and the 1720’s. An old map of 1743 has a building marked as ‘Oyl Mill’ which was used to crush linseed oil between the 1740’s and 1806. The present Coppermill building was built around 200 years ago.

In 1808 The British Copper Company acquired the mill for the sole purpose of rolling copper to produce 1d and 1/2d tokens between 1809 and 1814, which were considered legal tender at that time. It continued to roll copper until 1857 despite being sold to Henry Bath & co. in 1824 and William Foster & co. in 1832, but the name of The British Copper Company was retained during this period.

  Example of the 1812 penny
The East London Waterworks Company purchased the mill in 1860. An Italianate tower was constructed in 1864 for the building to serve as a pumping station for many years to follow. Fortunately the old name survived the passage of time.