Building record 2887/2 - Albert Mill

<1> Calladine A & Fricker J, 1993, East Cheshire Textile Mills, p. 102, 162 (Book). SCH1093.

Built in 1871 for silk processing. Replaced by Edward mill in 1924.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

Shown on First Edition OS map (25 inch to 1 mile).

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1881-2, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 6 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH2474.

Shown on First Edition OS map (6 inch to 1 mile).

<4> Aeon Archaeology, 2017, Land off Thomas Street, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 1QY: Archaeological Assessment, R4448 (Client Report). SCH8910.

An archaeological assessment was undertaken in 2017 in support of proposed re-development of a site to the east of Thomas Street. The area destined for development is immediately to the north of the site of a nineteenth century silk mill, Albert Mill.

The Albert Mill is shown on the first edition 25” County Series Ordnance Survey map of 1875 and is listed in the Trade Directory of 1864 as being occupied by George Rowley ribbon manufacturer, most likely having been built around this time. The mill is again listed in Slater’s Trade Directory of 1869 as being occupied by J.H. Monk and Son and used for ‘spun silk cloth’. From 1872 to 1890 the mill was occupied by Thomas Barton & Co who are listed as ‘silk throwsters’.

The mill is depicted on the first edition 25” County Series Ordnance Survey map of 1875 as a rectangular building fronting on to Hatter Street and labelled ‘Albert Mill (Silk)’ with associated outbuildings and at least two ponds to the rear. The map also depicts a ‘drying green’ on the east side of Hatter Street and a leat feeding water westward, beneath Hatter Street and into the mill building, presumably outflowing into the rear ponds.

The mill is also depicted on the second edition 25” County Series Ordnance Survey map of 1899 where it is again shown as a rectangular building, orientated north to south and fronting on to Hatter Street. There appear to be several small associated outbuildings to the rear and a single pond. The building is not labelled as a mill on the second edition map nor on the later third edition 25” County Series Ordnance Survey map of 1909 but is recorded in the trade directory of 1910 as being occupied by Walter Dale (fustian cutter) suggesting it was still in use as a silk mill.

Albert Mill is not mentioned in the trade directories after 1910 but the East Cheshire Textile Mills Survey (Calladine and Fricker, 1993, source 1) records that Redfern Rhead & Co Ltd occupied the building in 1925.

The mill is shown on an aerial photograph of 1929 as a three-storey brick-built structure with a double-pitched roof and chimney to the rear, probably from the boiler house. It is again shown an aerial photograph of 1951 where it appears unchanged aside from the chimney had been demolished. The building is shown on the later 25” county series Ordnance Survey map of 1963 (figure 17) where it is labelled ‘works’ and is linked via a footbridge to the adjacent Edward Mill on the eastern side of Hatter Street.

By the production of the county series Ordnance Survey map of 1970 Albert Mill had been bought and demolished by Berisfords in order to create a carpark for the nearby Empire Mill/Gloucester Works (CHER 2887/2), and the site still functions as such.