Building record 1140/1 - Swettenham Mill

Swettenham Mill,Swettenham Rd.Water powered mill 1675 (carved on timber beam at 1st floor) with additions 1714 (stone set low in wall) & 1765 (stone tablet high in brick gable).Brick nogged timber frame & brickwork, formerly with stone slate roof,now machine tiles.3 storeys,4 truss bays. Timber framed south gable-end & parts of 2 return walls,timbers painted on brickwork.Inscriptions WS 1714 & TS 1765.Int: the wheel is a modified overshot called a pitchback,where the water is held to the wheel for half its circumference.This drives 5 sets of stones,but has also been adapted to power a saw & provide electricity.Oak beams & large ceiling joists.The roof has oak strutted trusses,purlins & ridge tree (1).The water of the Midge Brook is diverted in a leat to a small pond at the back of the mill,where it drives the 14ft iron wheel.A separate drying kiln blg is nearby (2).A mill at Swettenham is mentioned in 1385 (3).

<1> Department of the Environment, 1971-2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, /5/43 (Report). SCH1934.

<2> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 75-6/33-71 Norris J H 1965 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

<3> Various, Cheshire History, 11/63 Bott O J P 1983 (Journal/Periodical). SCH811.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ86NW(M) (Index). SCH2487.

<5> Gunson W T, 1994, Surveyors Report (Book). SCH3005.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ86SW3/1964 (Index). SCH2487.

<7> 1970, The Place - Names of Lancashire (Book). SCH110.