Site Event/Activity record ECH6753 - An Archaeological Assessment of Crotia Mill Farm, Mill Lane, Weston, Crewe

An archaeological desk-based assessment was produced in 2019 in support of proposed development at Crotia Mill Farm, Mill Lane, Weston, Crewe. The site comprises a traditional farmstead typical of the Cheshire plain and includes a watermill, farmhouse, shippon, carthouse and pigsties. Currently all the buildings, except the farmhouse, are redundant. The buildings are not nationally designated but are considered to have heritage significance, additionally, below ground remains associated with the watermill are likely to exist. Proposals include the redevelopment of the watermill, but the demolition of the farmhouse and pigsties. There is mention of a 'mill field' in documentary sources dating to 1371, and another dating to 1398, refers to 'le moleyn de schawe'. The earliest map evidence for a mill on site dates to 1777 on the county map produced by Burdett. An estate map of 1815 indicates the mill was the property of Sir John Delves Broughton, and formed part of the the Doddington Estates. On Bryant's map of 1831, the site is labelled 'Cowshall Mill' and as 'Crowfall Mill' on the 1846 Weston Tithe Map. OS mapping dating to the 1870s names the site 'Croatia Mill (Flour)' and depicts the mill and farmhouse as a large, irregular C-shaped range, with mill pond to the south and tail race to the east. There are also ancilliary buildings to the north-west and south-east. By the third edition OS map, circa 1908, the farmhouse, mill and pigsties are depicted much as before, but the farm buildings are much altered; this arrangement is close to that which currently exists. The study concludes that the proposed development of the site has potential for negative impact on the watermill, any remains of its associated water management features, and the farm buildings. The most significant impact would be large-scale loss of fabric to the mill (though the vast majority of that structural fabric is thought to be 18th and 19th century), and ground disturbance in its vicinity. The precise extent of the sub-surface features has not been established through this desk-based assessment, and it is possible that they exist in any part of the development site. However, it is considered that the zone of greatest potential for such features exists within close proximity to the present mill building. (1)