Monument record 11417 - The Saracen's Head, Foregate Street

<1> Cox, M. & Hopkins A, 1976, A History of Sir John Deane's Grammar School Northwich, p.58-59 (Book). SCH7092.

Record of a former inn called the Saracen's Head on the north side of Foregate Street (possibly 39-45 Foregate Street). The inn was described in 1606 refer to it as an ‘antient Inn house’ in need of significant repair. Amongst the ruins listed, there was reference to a stable joining the garden, a malt house and kiln adjacent to the stable, a hostelry with chambers above, a room of three bays, a brewhouse of two bays, a kitchen with chamber above, the old hall and a chamber between the kitchen and the hall. The inn was held in tenancy by John Hankey, alderman of Chester between 1579 and 1590.

<2> Bennett R & Elton J, 1898, History of Cornmilling (Book). SCH1417.

In 1583 alderman John Hankey built a horse mill for the grinding of corn on land held by him, however it is not clear whether the mill was on this property. He was subsequently presented with a bill of complaint by Edmund Gamull of the Dee Mills who claimed he was facilitating the removal of revenue from Hankey and from others away from the Dee Mills. In response Hankey presented a bill of complaint against Gamull stating that he ‘being a free citizen, built a horse-mill on ground of which he had the fee-farme within the city’ and that Gamull was prohibiting his use of said horse-mill. The verdict handed down from the Exchequer of Chester was that Hankey should be allowed the use of the mill for his life provided he paid the Dee Mills a yearly rent.