Monument record 11106/1 - Former Fulling Mills at Handbridge

A Fulling mill, for the processing of cloth, was recorded on the south bank of the River Dee at Handbridge and was tied in with the lease of the Dee Mills and fisheries in the river.

The earliest reference suggests that a mill was located here in the early 12th century when a mill ‘beyond the bridge’ was recorded in a lease to the abbey. In the later 13th century there is also reference to two mills ‘across the bridge’ and formed part of the lease to Richard the Engineer who also held Dee Mills and the fishing rights from 1284 until his death in 1315, during that time he claimed for compensation for flood damage when the fulling mill was carried away (1). A new fulling mill was added after 1391 (2). In 1509, the rent for the fulling mill was 11 but from this point they appear to have been leased separately to the Dee Mills on the north bank. In the early seventeenth century, there were three water wheels there for fulling cloth however the mill was destroyed by fire during the siege of Chester.

The fields near the fulling mills were known as the Tentray Hays in the 14th and 15th century. The name refers to the process of laying out of cotton for drying on ‘tenting racks’. (6)

<1> Bennett R & Elton J, 1898, History of Cornmilling, /55-123 (Book). SCH1417.

<2> Morris, Rupert H (Rev.), 1894, Chester in the Plantagenet & Tudor Reigns, /107 (Book). SCH946.

<3> Harris, B.E., 1979, Bartholomew City Guides - Chester, /149 (Book). SCH394.

<4> Ward, S. W., 2009, Chester: A History (Book). SCH5305.

<5> Lewis C.P & Thacker A.T. (eds), 2005, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume Vii, The City of Chester - The City of Chester, Culture, Buildings, Institutions (Book). SCH6522.

<6> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, Vol 5.1: p48 (Book). SCH3228.