Monument record 2031/1 - Walk Mill

<1> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 160/2 1838 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

Walk Mill is depicted on the tithe map of 1838. Plot 239 is owned by Randle Wilbraham and occupied by Robert Phoenix. There is no description for this plot in the award.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ4864, 1874 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

Walk Mill and the head race/leat to the south marked are depicted on this this map. This channel is embanked for two thirds of its length.

<3> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, Vol.IV p.106 (Book). SCH3228.

Walkmill is mentioned in the Baker-Wilbraham family papers (see 4) in 1787.

<4> Cheshire and Chester Archives and Local Studies Centre, 1787, Lease by Richard Wilbraham Bootle of Rode Esq (Unpublished Document). SCH8666.

<5> Norris J.H., 1968, The Water-Powered Corn Mills of Cheshire, p.70 (Article in Journal). SCH6001.

‘…A three-storey brick and slate building with mill house forming part of the same unit. The mill portion is almost roofless and is derelict and the house, used up to 1960, is not much better. Both buildings are now used as hay stores. The external waterwheel, the shaft hole of which can be seen, and the machinery have gone, and the River Gowy has been straightened and no longer passes close to the mill. The name 'walk' indicates a fulling mill, many of which were converted to corn mills…’

<7> Archant, Various, Cheshire Life Magazine Website, Not so Run of the Mill in Stapleford, Chester: 18/02/2010 (Web Site). SCH5288.

The mill was occupied until 1958, but was demolished in the 1960s. Finds from the site include a mill stone and a date stone marked RE and dated 1668. Also found was an original sack hoist, a damsel, handmade bricks which have been re-used to build a fireplace and the original floor tiles which have been cleaned and relaid. The new building has been built to look like the mill building depicted in historic photographs of the site. See http://cheshire.greatbritishlife.co.uk/article/not-so-run-of-the-mill-in-stapleford-chester-11623/

<8> L - P Archaeology, 2008, Archaeological Monitoring Report for Land at Walk Mill, Chester, R2828 (Client Report). SCH5035.

Archaeological Monitoring was carried out between February 2006 and May 2008 during works to construct a new mill over the footprint of an earlier mill and the opening up of the Mill race and mill pond. The report of these works indicates that although the site lies in an area showing activity since the Neolithic period, the site itself has only been in use since the eighteenth to nineteenth century. It is thought that the mill was the first building to occupy the site and was initially used, until the twentieth century as a fulling or walk mill for cloth and subsequently converted to a corn mill. The investigation identified a clear development for the site, showing that the mill was built directly onto the natural silt and clay deposits and the mill race excavated through alluvial silts associated with the river Gowy. The site had been raised and levelled during the construction of the mill to protect it from flooding threats. The floor plan of the mill survived in situ in brick ten courses deep, except along the eastern edge, bounding the river Gowy, which was constructed of large sandstone blocks. The Ruabon quarry tile floor also survived in situ.

<9> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, Vol.III p.106 (Book). SCH3228.

Under the entry for Stapleford Mill (under Bruen Stapleford), comparison with a reference made to Walkmill Meadow mentioned in documents which form part of the Baker-Williams collection (CRO Ref: DBW). This reference is dated to 1692.

<10> Bott O J P, 1982, Domesday Mills in Cheshire, p.67 (Article in Journal). SCH6104.

A mill is recorded at Stapleford in the Domesday Book (see 11). It was owned in 1066 by Wulfsi in 1066 and by Ralph Hunter in 1086. Bott places this mill at Stapleford Mill (CHER 14908).

<11> Morgan P (ed), 1978, Domesday Book - Cheshire, 22-23/21/1 (Book). SCH1061.

<12> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R, 07/06/2019 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

It has been suggested that walk mill is the site of the mill mentioned in the Domesday Book (see 11) and in 1219 (see 9) due to its proximity to the Foulk Stapleford moated site, which is believed to have been the site of the manorial seat. However, most sources such as Bott, Norris and the EPNS place this at the site of Stapleford Mill to the north. The majority of the archaeological, architectural and documentary evidence indicates that Walk Mill dated from the late eighteenth century. The presence of an earlier late seventeenth century mill is hinted at by the found date stone and documentary reference to Walkmill Meadow. There is no direct evidence for an eleventh century watermill at this location.

<13> Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (RCHME), 1986, Foulk Stapleford Moat (Unpublished Report). SCH1246.

The supply leat to Walk Mill (fulling mill) cuts the western edge of the moated site. The mill is first mentioned in 1787 (see 3).

<14> Cheshire and Chester Archives and Local Studies Centre, Cheshire River Catchment Board (Minutes) 1935-1951, Bk 4, Nov. 1936- May(?) 1937 CRO CCC 5/3/3/1 (Paper Archive). SCH8714.

Walk Mill dredging started 2nd July to 19th August 1936 costing £37..17s.7d with an additional £40 on strengthening the banks. The old mill wheel was dismantled and the discharge channel past the mill cleared.

<15> Various, Written Communication to the HER, 18/6/2019 (Written Communication). SCH3756.

Reference to source 14 identified and submitted to the HER by a researcher.