Site Event/Activity record ECH4168 - Park Green Mill, Macclesfield, Cheshire: Archaeological Evaluation

Following on from a desk-based assessment in 2005 (see ECH 4174), an archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Matrix Archaeology in April/May 2006 at Park Green Mill, Macclesfield, in advance of re-development of the site. Park Green Mill was an eighteenth century silk mill, comprising a still extant pedimented building, Grade II listed, and a south-west wing, engine houses and gasholder, fronting onto Mill Lane, which were fire-damaged in 1976 and largely demolished. The desk-based assessment identified that the demolished south-west wing, also including the site of a demolished gasholder would be affected by the proposed development so required further evaluation. At time of survey a modern, steel-framed warehouse, with a concrete slab floor occupied the area of interest; it was empty and disused. Three trenches were excavated in order to investigate the early engine and boiler houses (trench 1), the later boiler house located at the southern end of the demolished east wing (trench 2), and the gas holder (trench 3) located in the centre of the mill courtyard. The excavation revealed a complex sequence of boiler rooms and engine houses and allowed investigation of the former gas holder. Work on site also allowed the identification of the site of the former wheel pit and recognition of surviving fragments of the largely-demolished south-west wing. (1)