Hi Diane, I don't seem to get a definitive answer, as to when people started using water mills, but they have been recorded since the first century BC, and at the time the doomesday book was written, { 1087 }, there were 5,624 water mills recorded in England, I hope this is of some help to you.
It sounds a very interesting topic, sorry I can't be of more help, Derek.

They date from the Iron Age according to the British Museum. You might find something on the Open University website - they used to run a history of industrialisation/technology course.

Thank you very much everyone. I once rode past one on a cycle tour, it was a derelict stone built building. I knew
it was a Water Mill, didnt know about the 'pipe' or 'flume'
aspect, or that the road down to my village was called
'Pipe Lane' - found that on the satellite map - then wondered who Mr Pipe was !
All good fun finding a name 1,000 years old.
When I went into our local museum and asked the girl
on the desk if they had any Romano-British pottery
upstairs, she said "No, only local ones."
I knew about
the Roman invasion when I was 14.

That's priceless, Diane! "Invaders and Settlers" must have been a National Curriculum module when she was in Primary School!

Local history is a fascinating topic, and maps are a wonderful resource (I am something of a map addict). I'm sure you are enjoying your research.

How can an academic interest in your own country be
'priceless' ?

I meant the girl's remark about the Romano-British pottery, Diane!