Hemingford Grey was once the site of the largest willow growing business in England. Before modern materials were used baskets were needed to transport fruit and vegetables to delicate to travel in sacks. There were also laundry baskets, and the Royal Mail also used large quantities of baskets. The company closed in the 1960s.
At one time there was four water mills in Hemingford Grey. Thomas Knight worked the last surviving water mill from the mid 1800s until the 1890s. The family also worked a steam mill in Low Road Fenstanton, but fierce competition came in the form of Potto Brown's French steam mill built in St Ives. With access to river transport and the railway running behind the building Thomas Knight could not compete. Today nothing remains of any of the water mills of Hemingford Grey.
