Monument record 1299/1/0 - Tatton Medieval Mill, Tatton Brook

Remains of a dam surviving 160m southwest of Tatton old Hall. The dam survives as an earthwork, 30m long and 12m wide. Radiocarbon dates confirm that it was used in the 11th century. To the south is a mill pond visible as a scooped area 40m x 10m. The mill building has not been located. (1)

At this point the brook, which has been straightened and canalised at some time since 1733, flows on the eastern edge of a shallow valley c.40m across and 6m deep. A substantial bank at right angles to the line of the stream, c.31m long x 10m wide, blocks the valley, but appears to have been slighted by the stream in its current, recent channel. Construction had begun at the eastern end of the mound. Alternate layers of sand and organic soil were laid to create a broad bank which still stands 35-110cm high. It appeared that the construction took place over a short period of time. Except for the use of turf, the bank was not revetted in any way. There were no posts or other timbers within it, and stones were limited in quantity and size. No structural evidence for a mill or leat was found. The mound could not be closely dated. Pottery of the period c.1650-1750 came from the topsoil overlying the site, and no dateable finds were recovered from the bank. Several c14 samples were taken, and a calibrated date of AD970-1270 offers evidence that the mound was no earlier than medieval in origin. The dam is unconvincing as the site of the mill given the evidence from excavation, there remains however a good chance that it was the Massy's mill dam. (2)

A grant was made by Richard and Isabella Massy c.1281-90 to John de Legh, one condition of which was to do suit to their mill at Tatton until their new mill at Ollerton was constructed. It is highly unlikely that this mill was at the site of the 17th-18th century grain mill, the pond of which is still extant and used as a water source for the ornamental gardens. That mill lies almost on the boundary of the two manors in an area of late woodland and is a most improbable site for a mill before both manors were securely in single ownership. (2)

Hussey, John, 1974, Redrawing of 1733 Hussey Tatton Estate Map (Maps and Plans). SCH4969.

<1a> English Heritage, Various, Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description), 1998 SAM 30362 (Scheduling Record). SCH4606.

<1b> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 1998 SAM 30362 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

<2> Higham N.J, 1999, The Tatton Park Project, Part 2: The Medieval Estates, Settlements and Halls.JCAS, p.102 (Article in Journal). SCH4937.

<3> Earl, John, 1787, A Map of Tatton Park and Tatton Hall - The Seat of William Egerton Esquire. (Maps and Plans). SCH4967.

<4> Higham N J, 1984-9, Professor Nick Higham's Aerial Photographs, J87/2/12 (Aerial Photograph). SCH7659.