Monument record 1579/1 - Prestbury Mill

<1> Norris J.H., 1968, The Water-Powered Corn Mills of Cheshire, p.69 (Article in Journal). SCH6001.

Prestbury Mill. The old mill forms part of a large modern mill and in the 1960s was due to be demolished for extensions. The leat and pool are clearly traceable.

<2> Bott O J P, 1985, Cornmill sites in Cheshire 1066-1850 Part 5 (continued), p.30 (Article in Journal). SCH8844.

Watermill on River Bollin south of Prestbury Bridge, replaced by modern provender mill.

<2> Bott O J P, 1986, Cornmill sites in Cheshire 1066-1850 Part 6, p.30 (Article in Journal). SCH6108.

Watermill on River Bollin south of Prestbury Bridge, replaced by modern provender mill.

<3> Greenwood, C. & Greenwood J., 1819, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2115.

The mill is first depicted on this map.

<4> Bryant, A., 1831, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2114.

Depicts the mill and the long leat to the mill pond. It is labelled Prestbury Mill.

<5> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 333/2, 1850 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

This map depicts the mill and its associated features. The mill pond, which lies to the south of the mill building, is fed by a leat which runs for c.700m south from the mill pond to a weir on the River Bollin. An overflow channel associated with another weir is located at the mill ponds southern end. The mill building is a long rectangular shape aligned almost east-west to the north of the mill pond. The eastern end overlies the head and tail races indicating the probable location of the water wheel. To the north of the mill building is the mill house. The award describes this plot as a house, mill, buildings and yard.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ9076, 1871-1873 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

This map depicts earthworks to the east and north of the mill pond, possibly the dam. The mill is labelled 'corn'.

<7> Huntings Surveys Ltd, 1971-1973, 1971-1973 County Survey, Run 43 no.4173-4, 08/07/1971 (Aerial Photograph). SCH4881.

The mill pond has been infilled and partially built on.

<8> Prestbury Womens Institute, 1963, Prestbury, p.16 (Booklet-Leaflet). SCH8674.

William Piggot is recorded in a deed of 1270-4 as giving ‘an acre of land, lying near the Bollin, in Prestbury, and leave to make a mill dam’ to the Abbey of St. Werburgh. The mill was destroyed by fire in 1940, though the walls remained. During excavations after the fire it was found that old gravestones had been used for the floor.

<9> AAA Archaeological Advisors Advisors & Foundations Archaeology, 2000, The Old Mill off the Village, Prestbury, Cheshire: Archaeological Evaluation Report, R2321 (Client Report). SCH3926.

Archaeological investigations undertaken on the mill site in 2000 found evidence for the infilling of the mill pond between 1909 and 1969, though some earlier waterlogged deposits were also noted. The modern mill building was constructed on the site of the mill building depicted on nineteenth century Ordnance Survey maps and it was considered probable that the modern building may incorporate elements of the earlier building.