owning the compulsory soke of its own immediate neighbourhood or of a specified district. There is no record showing how the soke right of Middle mill finally fared, but apparently it was at last allowed to lapse. At all events, the history of this mill seems to have been singularly quiet; and we find no such legal and other struggles on the part of the Crosses to enforce their rights, as those by which, for instance, the Mores distinguished themselves. We may now, perhaps, consider that both the original windmills have approximately been identified as Eastham mill and Middle mill, respectively.

EASTHAM WINDMILL.

Eastham and Eastham mill have hitherto had no place in Liverpool archæology. It has been noted that, in the "Extent" of 1346, the two watermills and one windmill were presumably all erected at the Dingle. This spot, the original milling centre of Liverpool, was variously termed :Euerston (1390), Easton (1451), Eston (1487), Estan (1521), East-town (1562), Eastham (1563 to 1655), East-tyn (1760). This place-name is undoubtedly still perpetuated in that of Everton. Ancient Eastham was apparently not comprised in Everton, which was a separate township from West Derby in the reign of Henry III, and a manor in 1360. In any case the separate identity of Eastham on Liverpool heath and within the liberties of the town, as distinguished from Everton manor, is established from the 14th to the 17th century by the records of the mill; while in 1679 both places occur in one entry in the Corporation books, and in 1760 an unpublished plan of Liverpool identifies the site of the mill by name as East-tyn mill dam" at Down Street.

The mill, though existing, as may reasonably be conjectured, in 1257, seems to be first mentioned in 1390, when John de Hull granted to William de Penereth one selion of land, "next Euerston Mylne" (Crosse Charters, No. 83). This reference suggests "Everton Mill"; but it would be of interest if it could be shown that a mill ever existed nearer Everton than that at Eastham. "Everton Mill" is marked on two manuscript maps of the last century, in the possession of the Dock Board, drawn by John Eyes and another; but in each case this landmark is Everton Beacon; and on no other map does there appear any indication of a mill at Everton. In 1394 Eastham mill was the one which seemed to be leased to the Corporation. In 1451 Henry VI, as lord of the manor, granted to one Thomas Fletcher a lease of the "windmill called Easton Mylne," at a rent of 26s. 8d. per annum. This was not a new mill; for about the same date the Compotus of the Receiver of the Duchy included an expenditure "for repair "of the windmill called Eston Mylne, to wit, in "carpenter's work, 4s. 7d.," which, as the Duchy paid for it, must have been a repair of the structure. Further, in the same year, 1451, when the King granted the lease of a certain other windmill (to be mentioned later) to another lessee, Robert del More, this latter mill was particularly designated as "one "windmill called New Milne :" Eastham mill, "the "other windmill," being therefore presumably of older date.

In one of the Crosse deeds of 1564 we find a Fletcher tenanting lands in "Le Esthem Dale,' but the family name is not continued in connection with milling. From about 1521 evidence of Eastham mill continues to 1679. The place is occasionally mentioned in the Corporation books, the Crosse Charters, the More Rental, &c., as

"Estem Mill Dale," "Eastham Milne," "East"ham Dale," &c. In 1571 Alice, widow of Richard Abraham, tenant of lands adjoining the mill, was presented at Port Mote for casting down "the stone

coppe being one end of Eastham Mylne." By this time the Molyneux fee farm leases had commenced; and in 1587 Sir R. Molyneux, in his action against Giles Brooke and others for illicit milling in the borough, cited "Eastham" as one of her Majesty's mills comprised in his lease. In the Molyneux Rentals at Croxteth, the mill at this period constantly appears. In 1589 the bailiff accounts for 40s. annual rent received from John Bolton, of Eastham, for "the mill there "called Easteham milne," out of which 25s. was paid for the fee farm to the Crown. In 1598, Richard Bolton paid the same rent. The last record showing the mill in existence is one of 28th October, 1630, when R. Rose, of Everton, was fined and ordered at Port Mote "to remove "the stones that now lie on the usual way from the "Eastham Milne; and the way shall be as it was "anciently afore." On October 1st, 1646, the Corporation acquired from Parliament the Liverpool estate of Lord Molyneux, who was declared a delinquent. In preferring their claim to Parliament they speak generally of "milnes," but in the grant they are awarded only "one windmill." Only one mill then existed therefore (except Middle mill, which belonged to the Crosses, and was not included in Molyneux's forfeiture). This solitary one was More's Townsend mill, to be mentioned shortly. Eastham mill had disappeared; presumably having been destroyed during the siege in 1644. There are two entries in the Assembly Books testifying to the anxiety of the Corporation, when they secured the lordship, to restore this mill. On December 19th, 1654, the mayor and bailiffs were requested