Monument record 14327 - Site of Hockenhull Mill

<1> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R, 01/05/2019 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

A long sub-rectangular negative earthwork visible in processed Environment Agency Lidar dating from 2015 (see 2). This feature has a marked similarity to the millpond associated with Stamford Mill (CHER 2032/1) to the north (see 3). The north-western end of this feature has been impacted by the later canalisation of the Gowy and is also obscured by the Packhorse Bridges (CHER 1893), but it is possible that any associated mill building would have been located to the immediate north-west of the central and easternmost bridges. To the north, the Tithe award records a field called ‘Mill Field’ (see 4). This is probably the mill referred to in a documentary source dated 1539 (see 5 & 7).

<2> Environment Agency, 2003-2020, Environment Agency LiDAR Surveys, 1m DTM D0193035 & D0193043, 21/11/2015 (Digital Archive). SCH7819.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ4666, 1874-1875 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

<4> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 203A/2 c.1839 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

The Tithe Map of 1839 records a field with the plot name of 'Mill Field'. North of the River Gowy and adjacent to the trackway leading to the Packhorse Bridges. The owner is William Rowe and the occupier Edward Taylor.

<5> Bott O J P, 1984, Cornmill sites in Cheshire 1066-1850 Part 4, p.30 (Article in Journal). SCH6107.

'...SJ 478 655 - Hockenhull Mill, a watermill site near the 'Roman Bridges' where Hockenhull Lane crosses the River Gowy. Norris refers to Hockenhull Mill as if on the site of Stapleford Mill (SJ482 650) but we have assumed the Mill to have been No.32 Mill Field on the Hockenhull tithe map…'

<6> Norris J.H., 1968, The Water-Powered Corn Mills of Cheshire, p.65 (Article in Journal). SCH6001.

'...SJ482 650 - Now only a site, the building having been pulled down in about 1950 and the machinery having been removed during the last war, not having worked since the first world war…'.

<7> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, Vol.III p.275 (Book). SCH3228.

The mill is referred to in a documentary source dated 1539.

<8> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol.II p.314 (Book). SCH1389.

There is a documentary reference to a mill at Hockenhull c.1300.

<9> Keogh, DB, 2018-, GeoDetective, http://geodetective.co.uk/hockenhull-mill/ (Web Site). SCH8713.

An account of the author’s rediscovery of, and subsequent research on, the site of a watermill at Hockenhull Platts. The site was initially identified from a field name recorded in the tithe apportionment (see 4). See page for full account.

<10> Beazley, F C, 1914, Notes on Shotwick, p.70 (Article in Journal). SCH8794.

Makes reference to a Cheshire Plea Roll no.15 dating from c.1302-3 which makes reference a mill in Hockenhull.