Building record 1989/2/1 - Trafford Mill

<1> Various, Cheshire History, No. 11 p.57 Bott O J P 1983 (Journal/Periodical). SCH811.

A Georgian water mill owned by North West Water Authority. Stands on the site of a medieval mill first mentioned in 1303.

<2> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 75-6/54-55 Norris J H 1965 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

The present watermill is a 3-storey brick and slate mill, with covered cart loading-way between the long range of buildings. There are two undershot waterwheels, both with angled sluices and two sets of machinery.

<3> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 404433 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

A water-powered corn mill dating from around 1830. Constructed on the footings of an earlier building or mill. Built for the Earls of Shrewsbury. There are also later, nineteenth century, additions which include a driftway, a large cartshed and a shippon. The mill is constructed of irregular bond orange brick with a Welsh slate roof. In plan it has an elongated L-shape and is 2-storeys tall with 12 bays on the western side. The ?northern? End bay has a stone wheel pit with a 2 segmented brick arches on a stone pier. The ?7th? Bay is another wheel pit with a single segmental arch. The bays between have small-pane windows. The northern wheel pit has unusual cast-iron single-spoke wheel connected to flour sifting machinery dated to 1883. The southern wheel pit has restored low breast wheel and complete train of machinery driving 3 pairs of stones which was in use until 1952. At listing the interior was being restored as a working museum. The ground floor has a quarry tile floor and a cast-iron fireplace in the corner. The list description makes reference to an unpublished thesis G.Coppack "A Country Mill, the history of Trafford Mill", Keele University, 1980

<4> Castlering Archaeology, Trafford Mill, Mickle Trafford, Cheshire: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment and Site Visit, R3249 (Client Report). SCH6601.

Desk-based survey undertaken in 2005 for Trafford Mill. The earliest known reference for a mill at Trafford is in 1302-3 when the Cheshire Chamberlain's Accounts state that Richard the Engineer, a military engineer to Edward I during his incursion into Wales, leased Trafford Mill together with lands and common pasture. From the late medieval period to 1917 the mill and various lands at Mickle Trafford were owned by the Earls of Shrewsbury, who remained absentee landlords. Although no precise dating evidence has been recovered for the existing three-storey, red brick mill, its Georgian architecture has suggested a late eighteenth century or early 1800s date. The 1789 Shrewsbury Estate map records the mill straddling the river and the ground plan of the building on the map resembles that existing today, without the agricultural additions on the south side, implying the mill dates back, at least, to this date.

The north end of the building comprises the working mill which was extended in the early nineteenth century with the addition of the agricultural range. In 1952, the mill lost the use of its waterwheel when some of the paddles had to be removed to release a boy swimmer who had fallen in to the wheelpit. The mill was sold to the Cheshire River Board in 1954 in order to develop a system of river improvements begun by Italian Prisoners of War. It was then used to store cattle fodder until it became the property of North West Water Authority.

<5> Chris Pike Associates, 2013, Trafford Mill, Mickle Trafford, Chester: Structural Condition Report, R4139 (Client Report). SCH8425.

Survey (visual inspection only) undertaken for the Trafford Mill Board, in 2013, of Trafford Mill with the purpose of identifying elements/areas in need of repair or requiring further investigation. The electrical and plumbing systems were not inspected, nor were the water wheel mechanisms and associated framework. The outer shell and internal frame of the mill were found to be in a moderate to fair structural condition with no significant differential movement or foundation weakness. However, the external brickwork is showing signs of wear due to weathering and accordingly requires some repair. The roof has spread slightly due to inadequate triangulation of loads. The lateral movement has compromised the weathertightness of valley gutters and seals around many of the roof light openings, allowing ingress of rain and onset of some rot. The report presents a schedule of required repairs.

Though the Historic England listing description infers that the age of the building dates back to the 1800s, there is evidence that it was constructed in the 1760s. This is contained in a description of the mill in an advertisement in the Chester Chronicle in October 1767. The advert describes the mill exactly as it exists now (two mills with an agricultural wing and with the addition of a grain drying kiln) and calls it a 'modern built' mill. The site was possibly remodelled and extended during the latter half of the 19th century, as the milling process and technology developed, to include areas for grain import and a warehouse on the east side for the despatch of milled flour sacks. The ancillary buildings may have housed cows and pigs for local produce supply. The milling operation stopped in the 1950s and site in general has been disused since, although it is understood that substantial work was carried out in the 1970s including the refurbishment of the roofs and partial underpinning of the wheel pits.