Building record 953/1 - Acton Corn Mill

<1> Norris J.H., 1968, The Water-Powered Corn Mills of Cheshire, p.48-49 (Article in Journal). SCH6001.

The mill is now largely stripped for a house conversion, but was the most complete old mill visited during the survey. The building is of four storeys brick with slate roof, and the original mill was built before 1819. In 1874 a cross-wing extension was added on the south end and at the same time the old mill was raised by one storey. There are two water wheels and two sets of complete machinery, one set being underdrift to the stones and the other overdrift.

At the northern end of the mill, the ground floor is at dam road level. Located here are three pairs of stones and gears to a shaft for the sack hoist. The northern wheel is eleven feet by six feet, constructed largely of iron with wood spokes and driving an iron pit wheel and wallower, mounted on a wooden upright shaft with an iron great spur wheel with face and bevelled teeth and situated internally to the gable wall on the basement floor. Above, on the first floor is a rolling mill and a grinding mill. The floor and roof space above house the mechanism for the sack pully driven by a belt from the shaft and gears on the ground floor.

At the southern end of the mill the wheel is in the basement and is mounted internally on what was the south gable wall before the 1874 extension. The wheel is an iron and twelve foot by six foot (high) breast shot type driving overdrift to the stones. There are scratch marks on the side wall of the wheel pits which do not correspond to this wheel, indicating that the original wheel has been replaced (possibly in 1874). Above on the ground floor are two pairs of overdrift mill stones driven by a large iron great spur wheel nine feet in diameter. Above, on the second floor is the machinery for a sack hoist derived by a band from the ground floor. This hoist incorporates an unusual breaking device.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ 57 SE (M) (Index). SCH2487.

Now converted to a private house. Modern windows throughout. [DJC 23/02/1976].

<3> Ashmore, O, 1982, The Industrial Archaeology of North West England, p.27 (Book). SCH3181.

A four storey brick built mill converted to a house. The loading openings have been converted to windows, but an upright shaft, great spur wheel and two mill stones have been preserved within. Large pond to the east with a sluice operated by rack and pinion gear.

<4> Cheshire County Council, 1974, County Treasures Record, 4/IA.057 (Index). SCH1000.

<5> Craft, M, 1966, Museums And Historic Buildings In Lancashire And Cheshire (Book). SCH9025.

Corn mill at Acton containing two water wheel, one overshot and one high breast and all machinery. To be converted to residential use, but some of the equipment will probably be retained.

<6> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 416/2b (undated) (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

The tithe map for Acton depicts two buildings located on the mill dam, with the mill pond to the east. The southern and more centrally positioned (in relation to the mill dam) building appears to be associated with two tail races which combine to the immediate west. This would appear to indicate that this is the mill building and that it had two enclosed wheels. Notably, the mill is named as Onston Mill.

<7> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 416/2e (undated) (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

This map depicts the mill pond and the mill building. The mill building appears to be served by a single head race at its northern end. A barn is located to the immediate south adjacent to the lane.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ5874, 1874-1877 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

This map depicts the mill pond and the mill building, with smaller buildings to the south and north. There is a suggestion that two tail races from the northern and southern ends of the building. The overflow leat and sluice are located at the southern end of the mill dam. Access to the mill and its associated building is via a road along the top of the dam. Labelled Acton Mill (Corn).

<9> Ordnance Survey, 1896-1898, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ5874, 1898 (Maps and Plans). SCH3848.

This map depicts the enlarged mill described in (1).

<10> Bott O J P, 1986, Cornmill sites in Cheshire 1066-1850 Part 6, p.28 (Article in Journal). SCH6108.

Acton Mill was a large watermill, now converted to a house; picturesque pool and dam.

<11> Bryant, A., 1831, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2114.

This map depicts the mill and mill pond. It is labelled Acton Mill.

<12> Greenwood, C. & Greenwood J., 1819, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2115.

This map depicts the mill. It is labelled Acton Mill.

<13> Burdett, P. P., 1777, A Survey of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH113.

This map depicts the mill, but it isn't named.