Monument record 97/1 - Windmill Hill

Windmill Hill, Norton. Probable site of a windmill originally belonging to Norton Priory (1). Manorial windmill of Norton can be traced back to medieval period. Listed by commissioners in 1536 & is mentioned in the charter of sale to Sir Richard Brooke in 1545. A settlement of 1607 included the windmill among the properties listed. Burdett places a symbol indicating a windmill here on his map in 1777, but it is not shown on the 1757 estate map. It is first named Windmill Hill in 1811 on Dunn's map. Site located by fieldwork. On crest of hill is a low mound c.20m diam & c.2m high. A few frags of 17th C pottery have been found in the top soil (2). Further development in 1984 did not reveal any traces (3).

<1> Various, Cheshire History, 14/ Bott O J P 1984 (Journal/Periodical). SCH811.

<2> Beamont, W, 1873, A history of the Castle of Halton and the Priory or Abbey of Norton, /38 (Book). SCH7586.

<2> Greene J P, 1989, Norton Priory, /38 (Book). SCH2262.

<2> Brown, F & Howard-Davis C., 2008, Norton Priory: Monastery to Museum Excavations 1970-1987, p.38 (Monograph). SCH7585.

<3> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Davey P J 1984 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

<4> Bennett R & Elton J, 1899, The History of Cornmilling (Oral Communication). SCH3143.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ58SE(M) (Index). SCH2487.