Monument record 1378/1 - Gawsworth Mill

<1> Bott O J P, 1983, Cornmill sites in Cheshire 1066-1850 Part 2, p.56 (Article in Journal). SCH6105.

The maps all show the mill one mile west of the village, but a medieval mill site may also have been possible under the dam of the lower fishpond opposite the church.

<2> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, Vol.I p.67 (Book). SCH3228.

Possibly the mill mentioned in a documentary source dating from the mid thirteenth century.

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

This map depicts the mill and mill pond.

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

This map depicts the mill and mill pond. It labells the mill as 'Gawsworth Mill'.

<5> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol.III p.547 (Book). SCH1389.

The grant of the manor from Randle [Ranulf II] Earl of Chester to Hugh son of Bigod in the twelfth century refers to the right to have a mill in the manor.

<6> Norris J.H., 1968, The Water-Powered Corn Mills of Cheshire, p.65 (Article in Journal). SCH6001.

'The brick mill house remains, but the pool is dry and the mill is only a pile of rubble.'

<7> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 165/2, 1849 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

This map depicts the mill, mill house and mill pond to the immediate east and north-east. The award describes the plot where the buildings are depicted as ‘house, mill, barn and garden’. Two further plots to the north-east are recorded as 'pool head'.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ8770, 1871-1872 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

This map depicts the mill, the attached mill house and an outbuilding to the south-west of the main range of buildings. The mill pond is located to the immediate north-east, curving to the east. It has largely silted up. A sluice and overflow leat are located to the north of the moat. The head race is enclosed and the tail race emerges to the west of the mill. The mill is labelled ‘Gawsworth Mill (Corn).

<9> Ordnance Survey, 1896-1898, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ8770, 1897 (Maps and Plans). SCH3848.

This map depicts a curving earthwork which runs from the mill along the southern side of the mill pond. Possibly the ponds dam, however the silted area of the pond has the label ‘Mill Dam’. The pond appears to have been partially cleaned out.

<10> The GeoInformation Group, 2005, 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review, 106G UK 645, 11/08/1945 (Aerial Photograph). SCH4608.

The mill buildings, outbuilding, garden and leats are clearly visible. The mill pond is entirely silted up or possibly drained.

<11> Huntings Surveys Ltd, 1971-1973, 1971-1973 County Survey, Run 41 no.0310, 25/08/1971 (Aerial Photograph). SCH4881.

Only the mill house is still extant. The brook now flows to the south of the mill site, rather than utilising the overflow leat as earlier (see 10).

<12> Environment Agency, 2003-2020, Environment Agency LiDAR Surveys, 1m DSM, D0190424, 25/03/2016 (Digital Archive). SCH7819.

The mill ponds dam is still visible as an earthwork, but has been breached by the present course of the brook.

<13> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Land Line and Master Map Vector Maps, 14/05/2019 (Maps and Plans). SCH4491.