Building record 2612/1/2 - Ingersley Vale Mill

<1> Longden G, 1988, The Industrial Revolution in East Cheshire: Six Theme Walks, /16 (Book). SCH3193.

Site of Ingersley Vale Mill & Works, only the weir, located to the immediate south of Waulkmill Farm (CHER1306) is listed.

Ingersley Vale Mill was built in 1792-3 with a small mill pool. It was rented out by Edward Collier in 1800, who built a new weir to create a bigger pond by Waulkmill Farm. The mill was rebuilt around 1820 after being destroyed by fire in 1819. In the mid nineteenth century, the mill was bought by John Brier, for textile printing, who changed the dual wheel system (one 22' wheel and one 32' wheel) for a single 17m diameter wheel. It was used from the late nineteenth century until 1929 by A. J. King and Co. for bleaching. Between 1929 and 1937, Slater Harrison and Co. used the mill for pasteboard manufacturing.

<2> Calladine A & Fricker J, 1993, East Cheshire Textile Mills, p.51, 63-4, 107, 111, 131, 146 (Book). SCH1093.

Ingersley Vale Mill was destroyed by fire in 1819, whilst being used to produce cotton (fire is a significant hazard in cotton spinning). By 1806 the mill was using an 18 horse power steam engine as a supplementary power source for when ‘the water is scarce and whilst the reservoir replenishes’. Occupied or owned, with partners, by the Swindells family from 1822-41. The Swindells had introduced powered weaving by 1826. That year troops were called to the mill (occupied by Fernley & Swindells) to prevent an attempt to destroy 330 power looms by disgruntled hand weavers. In the mid nineteenth century a single 17m diameter wheel replaced the existing dual wheel system. Fernley & Swindells owned a truck or tally shop close to the mill.

<3> Department of the Environment, 1971-2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 2/134 (Report). SCH1934.

Weir: dated 1800 for Edward Collier: Rubble sandstone with hammer-dressed edgings. Tall curving dam wall supports 3 steps with low revetment walls with a curved top. Each side has a block with a well carved E * C MDCCC. The 2 sides are joined by remains of an iron sluice. The weir supplies a race which runs along the hill side to enter Ingersley Vale Mill at roof level and formally ran the 2nd largest water wheel in Great Britain.

<4> Ashmore, O, 1982, The Industrial Archaeology of North West England, /57 (Book). SCH3181.

Ingersley Vale Works: Bleaching and calico-printing works started in the early nineteenth, John Brier in the 1850s and 1860s, AJ King & Co. in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Main building runs east-west, three stories, stone, twelve bays long, stone flag roof, date stone ‘1809 EC’ (Edward Collier) on the southern front. At west, tall stone-built wheel house with long semi-circular arched windows, now blocked, iron feed trough across road from race. Housed water wheel 17m diameter, 3.2m wide. Race runs 383m, partly embanked, along west side of valley to steep stone weir at the southern end of Clough Pool, 229m long.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

Also known as Clough Mill (source 5) and Clough Bleach Works (source 6).

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1896-1898, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH3848.

<7> University of Manchester Archaeological Unit, 2008, Ingersley Vale Mill, Rainow, Cheshire An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of a 19th and 20th Century Textile Finishing Complex, R2829 (Client Report). SCH5037.

An archaeological desk-based assessment was produced in 2004 for Ingerlsey Vale Mill in support of proposed re-development. During the period 1793/4 to 1999 Inglersley Vale was a water-powered cotton spinning mill, then a print works, and finally a bleach works. It is one of 21 cotton and woollen mills within the Bollington and Rainow area. Of the 59 textile mills known to be founded before 1800 in Cheshire, 13 lie in Bollington and Rainow and Ingersley Vale is amongst this group. Most of the standing buildings are not particularly rare types. The exceptions are:- the circa 1809 cotton spinning mill block which is the earliest surviving mill in Bollington and amongst the earliest textile mills to survive in eastern Cheshire; also the wheel house which contained the second largest water wheel in nineteenth century Britain. Surviving below-ground remains relating to the early weaving shed, and the mid-nineteenth century print works, would also be of rarity, especially where these include evidence for power-systems or processes. The embanked mill leat is not uncommon in the North West, although its early date of circa 1800 and the completeness of this original system are unusual. The survival of its later cast-iron trough at roof height is also an unusual and rare feature of the site.

<8> Oxford Archaeology North, 2011, Ingersley Vale Mill, Bollington, Cheshire: Archaeological Building Investigation (and Watching Brief), R3106 (Client Report). SCH5494.

Following on from the desk-based assessment in 2008, a level 1 building survey was produced for Ingersley Vale Mill in 2010/11, prior to its proposed re-development, including the demolition of several buildings surrounding the central spinning mill and waterwheel house, each of which are scheduled for renovation. Following the survey, a watching brief was undertaken during the first phase of demolition works to mitigate for the potential of finding any surviving water management systems. Also undertaken was a Level II survey of the original spinning block, the waterwheel house, and the leat that adjoins the waterwheel house at roof height.

The complex has been heavily re-modelled during its evolution from a cotton-spinning mill into a bleachworks, and the phases of constructions identified reflect both changes in ownership and function of the complex. The earliest exteant fabric comprises the early nineteenth century spinning block, typical of the period and comprising a slender stone structure with timber floors and a fireproof stair tower. This was substantially re-modelled in the late nineteenth century to house bleaching kiers, including the complete removal of the first floor.

The mill was originally water-powered, and the most striking feature of the complex is the extant waterwheel house, which contained a 56’ diameter cast- iron wheel, which was added to the western side of the spinning block in the mid-nineteenth century. This was almost certainly a backshot wheel, with a leat supplying water from the River Dean.

The watching brief revealed the buried remains of foundations for three boilers, which were previously unknown. Whilst the earlier of these appear to have been associated with a steam engine, providing supplementary power for the mill, the primary role of the later boiler was to provide hot water for the bleaching process, which heralded a rapid expansion of the complex during the late nineteenth century.

<9> Oxford Archaeology North, 2019, Ingersley Vale Mill, Bollington, Cheshire: Archaeological Building Investigation and Condition Report, R4324 (Client Report). SCH8718.

Following on from earlier mitigation work, a building condition survey was produced in 2019 for Ingersley Vale Mill. This was aimed to assess how the buildings have changed since the original level 1 survey of 2010/11. Photographs and plans were compared between the two survey dates to enable an understanding of the level of deterioration. This established that there had been considerable changes to the site with many buildings demolished, and the remaining structures in a generally poor condition.