Building record 1118/1 - Sandbach Mill

<1> Norris J.H., 1968, The Water-Powered Corn Mills of Cheshire, p.59 (Article in Journal). SCH6001.

A three-storey brick building with a history going back to 1423 and rebuilt in 1872. At one time there was a beam engine with an eight-foot fly wheel fitted alongside the main gearing, with the beam operating parallel to the front of a mill. The waterwheel drove the mill until 1963, when the mill was converted to electricity. The wheel is overshot (ten feet by six feet) and was intended to drive four pairs of stones, but only three pairs were fitted. The great spur wheel is eight foot in diameter. There is a drying kiln with the old boiler house and chimney at the end of the building.

<2> Bott O J P, 1983, Cornmill sites in Cheshire 1066-1850 Part 2, p.65 (Article in Journal). SCH6105.

A watermill. Documentary references 1423 and 1771 (see 3).

<3> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, Vol.II p.269-273 (Book). SCH3228.

<4> Swire, W. & Hutchings, W. F., 1830, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2116.

This map depicts a watermill and mill pond at this location. Labelled Sandbach Mill.

<5> Bryant, A., 1831, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2114.

This map depicts a watermill and mill pond at this location. Labelled Sandbach Corn Mill.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ 75 NE (M) (Index). SCH2487.

Sandbach Mill. Three storey brick, rebuilt 1872, but history goes back to 1423. Some machinery and the old boiler house and chimney. Drying kiln to side. See (1).

<7> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 351/2a c.1841 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

This map depicts the mill pond with the mill buildings at its south-western end. The mill building is a long rectangular building with two projections on the south-western side.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ7559, 1875-1876 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

This map depicts the mill pond with the mill building at its south-western end. The mill building is a long rectangular building. Another building adjoins the mill building on its north-western gable end. The mill pond appears to be substantially silted up. It appears to be filled by a leat running from sluices associated with the mill pond for Brook Mill c.730 metres to the north-east. A sluice is located to the north of the north-western end of the mill, controlling the flow through the overflow leat. A lane passes directly in front the mill and to its immediate south-west, two channels, presumably tail races, which quickly merge, are depicted running southwest away from the mill. The tail race and overflow leat merge c.250 metres to the south-west. The lane crosses the overflow leat by means of a bridge. The mill is labelled Sandbach Mill (Flour).

<9> Ordnance Survey, 1896-1898, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ7559, 1898 (Maps and Plans). SCH3848.

As previously depicted. A small building is now depicted to the immediate south-east of the south-eastern end of the mill building. Two buildings are shown adjoining the mill buildings at its north-western end, though the footprint of the mill and adjoining buildings is the same as on the preceding map. The mill pond appears to have been cleared. The mill is labelled Sandbach Mill (Corn).

<10> Ordnance Survey, 1909-1912, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ7559, 1909 (Maps and Plans). SCH4361.

As previously depicted. A chimney is depicted on the north-eastern side of the small building.

<11> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R, ; (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

The mill building and attached mill house at its north-western end are now domestic residences. The boiler house, drying kiln, and chimney, which were probably the small building depicted on the 1909 Ordnance Survey map (see 9), are no longer extant. The mill pond is partially silted and the sluice to the overflow leat is still in use.

<12> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol.III p.97, 100 (Book). SCH1389.

Documentary references c.1423/4 and 1435/6 to a watermill at Sandbach.