Monument record 797/1 - Peck Mill

<1> Bott O J P, 1983, Cornmill sites in Cheshire 1066-1850 Part 2, p.61 (Article in Journal). SCH6105.

Cornmills recorded 1336-1386. Bostock Mill, a watermill site at Peck Mill Farm. Norris (see 2) lists it at Peck Mill. The tithe map records a number of fields containing mill in the name grouped around the farm (see 9).

<2> Norris J.H., 1968, The Water-Powered Corn Mills of Cheshire, p.75-6 (Article in Journal). SCH6001.

Now part of an attractive farm residence.

<3> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, Vol.II p.202 (Book). SCH3228.

Molendinum de Bostok.

<4> Burdett, P. P., 1777, A Survey of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH113.

A watermill is depicted on this map.

<6> Greenwood, C. & Greenwood J., 1819, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2115.

A watermill is depicted on this map. It is labelled Peck Mill.

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

A watermill is depicted on this map. The mill pond is depicted to the south-west. It is labelled Peck Mill.

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

A watermill is depicted on this map. The mill pond is depicted to the south-west. It is labelled Peck Mill.

<9> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 58/2, 1839 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

<10> Vale Royal Borough Council, 1977-79, The Vale Royal Borough Council Historic Buildings Survey Index Card, BOS/HB 8 (Paper Archive). SCH5481.

From Hartford News August 1977: To prevent rats running underneath it, Peck Mill is said to have been built with all the floors at different levels; it had such a small mill dam that only one peck of grain could be ground at a time. Hence the name. Situated in a lonely spot Peck Mill had the reputation of being used by smugglers, who covered their tracks by holding mock funerals. A deserter from the army was said to have been successfully hidden, disguised as a corpse, in a coffin at the mill.