Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• molend' voc' le Westmyll 1512 Ct

• West Mill 1585 Tres

• Molendino 1270 Hutch3

• atte Mille 1325 ib

• Miller 1549 ib

Etymology

West Mills (SY 957823), molend ' voc ' le Westmyll 1512Ct , West Mill 1585 Tres, v. west , myln , cf. Mill Close 1549 Hutch3, 1585 Tres, Myll Close , Myll Mead 1603Swan , West Mill Bridge 1791 Boswell, v. clos(e), mǣd . The place is situated W of the castle on the Corfe River. The mill here may be identical with the water mill at Corfe mentioned in 1291 Hutch3, 1435Ct , AD , 1549 Hutch3 and may also have given name to Henry de Molendino 1270 Hutch3, John atte Mille 1325 ib, and John Miller 1549 ib to whom a water-mill and the demesne lands of the castle were demised. According to Hutch3 1 550 the hundred court for Hasler hundred infra was held here ('in a cotage called the West Mill, near Corfe').