Building record 2598/10/0 - Bollington Higher Mill

Former watermill on the River Dean, worked at one time by the Swindells family. Millpond immediately to the east. Used as a hat works in the late 19th century, and a brewery in the early 20th century. Now occupied by Shrigley Dyers (1). Built in the 1790s, by the Antrobus family, as a water powered cotton mill. Extended in 1835. Water wheel system rebuilt in between 1832 & 1859, moving the wheel from the inside to the outside of the building. Water power was retained because water powered mills were excluded from legislation limiting working hours in mills (2). Watching brief undertaken during April, June and July of 2001. No elements of the mill earlier than those already know were identified, although it was possible to identify later addittions to some of the original elements such as the reservoir/mill pond (5).

<1> Ashmore, O, 1982, The Industrial Archaeology of North West England, /30 (Book). SCH3181.

<2> Calladine A & Fricker J, 1993, East Cheshire Textile Mills, /38,69,112 no. 137(Y) (Book). SCH1093.

<3> Cheshire County Council, 1974, County Treasures Record, 5/IA.593 0 1984 (Y) (Index). SCH1000.

<4> Wilmslow Historical Society, 1973, Cotton Town: Bollington and the Swindells Family, /35-38 (Book). SCH978.

<5> Giffords Consulting Engineers (Chester), 2002, Shrigley Dyers, Bollington: Report on an Archaeological Watching Brief, R2430 (Client Report). SCH4394.