Monument record 2116/1 - Site of Newhall Mill

<1> Bott O J P, 1984, Cornmill sites in Cheshire 1066-1850 Part 4, p.31 (Article in Journal). SCH6107.

A watermill, on a site which is now largely redeveloped as a dairy. Earliest reference is 1547.

<2> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, Vol.III, p.104 (Book). SCH3228.

The earliest documentary reference to the mill is in the Ministers Accounts of 1547 (held at the Public Record Office).

<3> Norris J.H., 1968, The Water-Powered Corn Mills of Cheshire, p.68 (Article in Journal). SCH6001.

Site now extensively redeveloped by Newhall Dairies.

<4> Burdett, P. P., 1777, A Survey of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH113.

The mill is depicted on this map.

<5> Cheshire Archaeology Planning Advisory Service, 1974-Present, Cheshire Historic Environment Record, CHER 388 (Digital Archive). SCH6757.

A twelfth century coin hoard was dicovered in the mill's leat and may indicate an earlier origin.

<6> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 290/2 c.1845 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

The mill building, tail race and mill pond are clearly depicted on this map. The mill building is to the immediate east of the Whitchurch Road (not on the modern alignment) and the mill pond is to the immediate west. The mill pond almost encloses a small island which is recorded as Windmill Bank and Mill Pond is the accompanying award. The award records the name to the mill's plot as Water Mill, Steam Mill and Garden. A large plot to the south of the tail race is called Moat Meadow and Mill Field.

<7> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, 05 SJ6045 1875 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

Whitchurch Road has been realigned to the west of the mill. The mill pond is no longer extant. The mill is labelled as 'flour'.

<8> Huntings Surveys Ltd, 1971-1973, 1971-1973 County Survey (Aerial Photograph). SCH4881.

Earthworks, probably associated with the the mill pond, are visible to the west of Whitchurch Road. Also see CHER 2116/2.

<9> National Remote Sensing Centre Ltd, 1992-3, National Remote Sensing Centre County Survey (1992-1993) (Aerial Photograph). SCH5297.

Earthworks, probably associated with the the mill pond, are visible to the west of Whitchurch Road. Also see CHER 2116/2.

<10> Bluesky International Ltd, 2005-2006, 2005-2006 Bluesky Survey (Aerial Photograph). SCH5483.

Earthworks associated with the the mill pond are clearly visible to the west of Whitchurch Road. Also see CHER 2116/2.

<11> Medieval Settlement Research Group, 2009, Field Investigation at Newhall Tower, Newhall, Cheshire, p.59-67 (Article in Journal). SCH6741.

The earlier course of Whitchurch Roadmay date from at least the late medieval period and its close relationship with the mill pool would suggest that it ran accross the mill dam. The mill pond may have incorporated or form part of the the moat to Newhall Tower (see CHER 2116/2). The mill was converted to steam power in the late nineteenth century, facilitating the realignment of the road and the draining of the mill pond. The levels of the two watercourses may have been deepened at this time to improve drainage.