King's Mill Reservoir
Kings Henry II And The MillerKings Henry II And The Miller
||"On the North East edge of Kings Mill reservoir stood 'The King's Mill'. It is said that in the days of King Henry II, this mill was occupied by John Cockle, who resided here with his [wife, his] son and his daughter Margery.
One day in hunting the king was seperated from his retinue, and found his way towards dusk to the Mill, and requested the mistress of the house to give him food and a night's lodging. Upon remarking that he looked like a clean, decent man, she gave him his supper, and arranged that he sleep with her son, Dick.
In the morning she gave him some breakfast, and [her daughter] 'Carrotty Margery' waited upon his Majesty; and whilst engaged on the meal a number of courtiers arrived, asking if anything had been seen or heard of the missing King, in search of whom they had been engaged all the night.
The King then declared himself, much to the amazement of Mistress Cockle, who went on her knees to beg pardon for the familiarity with which she had treated him, and above all for putting him to sleep with her son.
But the King graciously thanked her for her kindness and hospitality, kighted her husband on the spot, and thus made her 'My Lady'.
The story goes on to say that the despotic Monarch insisted on one of his Lords taking 'Carrotty Margery' to wife, and finding a wife for his quondam bedfellow amongst the ladies of the court."
- Taken from "History of Sutton In Ashfiel, or Past Links With The Present" published by local printer Luther Lindley in 1907.
King Henry II
by an unknown artist c.1620
King Henry II lived from 1133-1189, and reigned from 1154 until his death. He is perhaps best remembered as the King who caused the murder of Thomas ` Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1170.
The King repented of his hand in the murder, and in atonement founded Newstead Abbey (just over the Ashfield border).
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