Monument record 1989/2/2 - Trafford Mill's Leat System

Ordnance survey maps dating from the nineteenth century and the Tithe map for the township show the mill across the course of the River Gowy. The regularity of the course at this location would suggest that the river channel is artificial or has been modified for the purpose of providing power to the mill wheels. An overflow or diversion channel, controlled by a sluice, is located upstream from the mill. This channel empties into Back Brook to the north (1, 2,3 & 4).

Between 1940 and 1947 a new channel and weir have been constructed to the north of the mill allowing water to by pass the mill. The overflow channel, which fed into Back Brook, has been in-filled (5 & 6).

The sluice was manufactured by Goulds of Ellesmere Port, and installed in 1946, partly to safeguard the water supply to the mill and partly to reduce the risk of flooding to the Stanlow oil refineries downstream. It stands at the head of a channel, now the main course of the River Gowy, excavated by Italian prisoners of war between 1944 & 1945. Chester City Council has decided that the sluice gate is included in the Grade II listed status of Trafford Mill (7).

Stone and brick work associated with the sluice of the overflow channel, which fed into Back Brook survives and is visible in the bank of the Gowy. The course of this channel is visible as shallow earthwork (8).

<1> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 270/2 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

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

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1896-1898, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH3848.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1909-1912, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH4361.

<5> Royal Air Force, 1944-1947, 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review (Aerial Photograph). SCH8041.

<5> The GeoInformation Group, 2005, 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review (Aerial Photograph). SCH4608.

<6> GeoInformation Group, 1940, Luftwaffe Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph). SCH5167.

<7> Huw Rowlands, 2009, Red Poll Beef E-News, Febuary 09 & March 09 (Booklet-Leaflet). SCH5168.

<8> Cheshire Historic Environment Record, Various, Historic Environment Record Site Visit Record, R Edwards 25/02/09 (Unpublished Document). SCH5294.