Wateringbury Stream

The Wateringbury stream is a tributary of the River Medway in Kent, England.

It rises at Swanton, West Peckham parish, flows south east towards Mereworth and then flows in a generally easterly direction to join the River Medway at Wateringbury.

The Domesday Book records two mills, value 10/-, at Marovrde (Mereworth).

The site of the last mill now lies in the private grounds of Mereworth Castle.

The mill was demolished by 1907 and the site is today marked by a waterfall at the eastern end of the lakes in the grounds of Mereworth Castle.

Harry Blaker died c.1848 and the mill was run for a short time by his widow, Sarah.

The mill originally worked three pairs of millstones[5][6] and is a Grade II listed building.

[8][9] A site close to the source of the Wateringbury Stream shows some characteristic signs of previous use of waterpower.

This latter explanation could tie up with local superstition that says a bride would drink the water from the well to ensure fertility - perhaps a belief that a bride would be drinking from the breast of the earth, originating from Norman times.

[10] A track crosses the Wateringbury Stream by means of a ford at TQ 680 531.