Monument record 951/1 - Kingsley Corn Mill

<1> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol.II, p.87-101 (Book). SCH1389.

Records a number of references to a mill at Kingsley in medieval documents.

<2> Norris J.H., 1968, The Water-Powered Corn Mills of Cheshire, p.66 (Article in Journal). SCH6001.

'A four storey seventeenth century building with nineteenth century additions, the mill being of attractive form with loading hoist to the top storey by a raised extension to the roof. The wheel was approximately in the centre of the mill, very largely dividing the mill into two….The wheel, made by Harding of Wilderspool, Warrington, about a hundred years ago, was overshot 18ft x 5ft, weighing 3 tons and 14cwt, mounted on a wooden shaft with iron spokes and wooden drum and was used up to 1957 when the bearings failed. There was an iron pit wheel and vertical shaft with iron great spur with wood cogs driving four pairs of stones. The sack hoist had an unusual double jockey pulley. There is a large pool with raised walling above land level, indicating that the original pond was enlarged and raised.'

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ57NE (M) (Index). SCH2487.

<4> Ashmore, O, 1982, The Industrial Archaeology of North West England, p.43 (Book). SCH3181.

'Former water-powered mill with older buildings on west, four storeys, brickbuilt, loading openings on west front, partly of early date (17C ?). Site of waterwheel inside: worked until 1957. Recent buildings on east. Pond raised above road. Occupied by manufacturers of animal foods.'

<5> Cheshire County Council, 1974, County Treasures Record, 4/IA.050 (Index). SCH1000.

Depicted on (6), (7) and (8).

<6> Burdett, P. P., 1777, A Survey of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH113.

<7> Swire, W. & Hutchings, W. F., 1830, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2116.

<8> Bryant, A., 1831, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2114.

<9> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 225/2, c.1845 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

Depicts the mill, mill pond and mill house.

<10> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, Vol.III, p.242 (Book). SCH3228.

The earliest documentary reference to Kingsley Mill, molendinum de Kingisleye' dates from 1257.

<11> Vale Royal Borough Council, 2006, Vale Royal Borough Council's List of Locally Important Buildings (Report). SCH5487.

Criterion E: buildings included in the Vale Royal Borough Council Historic Buildings Survey 1977 - 79

<12> Vale Royal Borough Council, 1977-79, The Vale Royal Borough Council Historic Buildings Survey Index Card, KIN/HB 25 (Paper Archive). SCH5481.

Eighteenth century two storey flour mill. Red brick limewashed. Slate roof. Condition good. Mill now altered but some original features inside. The new business is computerised blending and grinding. Formerly a grade III listed building.

<13> Sunderland Peacock and Associates Ltd., 2017, Heritage Statement: Former Water Mill at Kingsley Mill, Mill Lane, Kingsley, Cheshire, WA6 8JA (Client Report). SCH8371.

Heritage assessment and photographic survey produced for Kingsley mill in 2017 in advance of proposed development of the site, potentially involving demolition of the mill. Reviews the historical map evidence.

<14> Jenny Wetton Conservation, 2020, Kingsley Mill, Frodsham: Historic Building Recording, R4420 (Client Report). SCH8858.

Archaeological building recording (level 2) was undertaken in 2000 for Kingsley Mill, Frodsham, in advance of proposed re-development. The brick built mill building dates from the seventeenth century with later nineteenth century alterations and further twentieth century additions. The presence of large stone blocks at basement level on the north-west and north-east sides may indicate remains of an earlier mill. It appears on Greenwood’s map of 1819, marked as Kingsley Mill and was extended to the south in the later nineteenth century. The Mill was occupied by the Gibson family from at least the early nineteenth century until around the Second World War. The family adapted the Mill building for animal feed manufacture and mixing in the 1970s and an additional loading door on the north-west elevation and a loading gantry on the roof of the southern section of the Mill building appear to have been added at this time, with a two-storey building to the east linked to the mill at the upper level.