when were water mills mostly built
Early water mills were mostly used for grinding corn, then from the 13th century for a variety of other purposes, especially for âfullingâ or thickening woollen cloth.There was a dramatic growth in the number of mills in the late 18th and early 19th century.A growing population and the rise of the cotton industry meant an increased demand for water power. The new mills were built for cotton spinning and later adapted for other textile processes.arly water mills were mostly used for grinding corn, then from the 13th century for a variety of other purposes, especially for âfullingâ or thickening woollen cloth.