Monument record 169 - Newbold's Mill

<1> Bott O J P, 1983, Cornmill sites in Cheshire 1066-1850 Part 2, p.65 (Article in Journal). SCH6105.

A watermill site at Mill House one mile south-south-west of Astbury Village, Documentary references from 1404 (see 2) and mill field names on the tithe award (see 4).

<2> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, Vol.II p.287 (Book). SCH3228.

Documentary reference to Neubold mulne in 1404.

<3> Norris J.H., 1968, The Water-Powered Corn Mills of Cheshire, p.67 (Article in Journal). SCH6001.

The mill is said to have been across the road from the farm but there appears to have be no traceable evidence.

<4> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 289/2 c.1839 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

Either side of a short lane leading north from Watery Lane are plots containing ‘mill’ in their name. To the west are two plots called Mill Bank. To the east are two plots called Mill Meadow.

<5> Environment Agency, 2003-2020, Environment Agency LiDAR Surveys, Composite DTM 1m 2020 (Digital Archive). SCH7819.

LIDAR survey shows a bank across the course of the stream, on the eastern side of, and parallel to, the short lane leading north from Watery Lane. At its southern end, the bank appears to turn to the south-east and run for 110 metres, parallel to Watery Lane, to the vicinity of Mill House Farm, before (apparently) curving round it. This section of the earthwork is generally broader (c.12 metres) and shallower.

<6> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R, 13/02/2023 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

The evidence suggests that the earthwork running across the stream is the former mill dam (see 5). It’s not uncommon for mills of this period to be located on, or directly adjacent to the mill dam. A rectangular depression, associated in part with the lane, and on the northern side of the stream is a possible location, but this is highly conjectural. The function of the bank running parallel to Watery Lane is uncertain. It may be part of the mill dam, but this seems unusual given the topography. Historic maps (see 8 & 9) show a water course adjacent to Watery Lane, and it is possible that this earthwork is in some way associated with this.

The mill pond would have been in the fields to the east, known as Mill Meadow. There is little evidence to suggest it’s extent, though canalised section of the stream here may provide some inference as to its size.

The mill is not depicted on Burdett’s map of 1777 (though neither is Watery Lane), suggesting the mill was no longer extant by the late eighteenth century (see 7). It is from the vicinity of the Mill Dam which a presumed early medieval log boat was recovered in 1923 (see CHER 1160).

<7> Burdett, P. P., 1777, A Survey of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH113.

<8> Bryant, A., 1831, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2114.

<9> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ8460 & SJ8560, 1873-1891 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.