Site Event/Activity record ECH6560 - Davenshaw Mill, Congleton, Cheshire East: Historic Building Report

An historic building report, including photographic record, was produced in 2017 for Davenshaw Mill, Buxton Road, Congleton, in advance of its proposed demolition and re-development of the site. Davenshaw Mill is a former silk mill dating from the early nineteenth century, located adjacent to the Dane-in-Shaw Brook, which would have provided its first source of power. Silk manufacture began in Congleton in the 1750s and Davenshaw Mill was probably founded during a boom which lasted from 1820 to 1824. In 1830 it was owned by Henry Hogg and continued in the same family ownership until the late nineteenth century when it was the premises of Henry Hogg and Son, silk throwers. However, by 1909, the decline of the silk manufacturing industry resulted in it being converted for fustian cutting and shirt manufacture. By the late twentieth century the building was in use as engineering works. The mill comprises a group of structures including the three-storeyed mill building dating to the early nineteenth century; a three-storey outrigger attached to the mill, also a three-storey office, both early nineteenth century. Other structures are of mid-twentieth century date, or later, some of which replaced earlier nineteenth century structures. Due to extensive alteration in the twentieth century, the value of the original buildings has been compromised. (1)