Building record 2887/31/0 - Old Mill

John Clayton and Nathaniel Pattison built the Old Mill in 1753 and cost £5000. It was one of the first British silk mills and the first in Congleton. The mill was constructed to imitate Lombe’s Derby Mill, the first successful textile mill in the country. London silk merchants and local investors funded the establishment of the Old Mill. It was five stories high with a width of 6.6m. The width was dependent on the requirements of the machinery and the need to provide adequate light to the floor area and the span achievable by unsupported timber beam. The Old mill had wings that were used for warehousing and offices. The brick work was fine using Flemish bond on all elevations and with a decorative chequered effect achieved on the gable elevations by using alternating dark stretcher bricks with light header bricks. It had a pedimented centre, cupola and end pavilions. The end bays had pyramidal roofs. The pediment had a clock at is centre. It was 240’ long, 24’ wide and 48’ high and was light by 390 windows (29 bays long and five bays wide at its centre). This is very long for a mill of this period. The waterwheel was located centrally. It was known to house Lombe’s Italian throwing machinery. It is one of five known mills to utilise waterpower prior to the 1780’s, in East Cheshire. Samuel Pearson bought the mill in 1830 and subsequently greatly expanded it. For machinery see reference (1).

Built about 1752 by John Clayton of Stockport, who started the silk trade in the town. James Brindley constructed the waterwheel, which supplied the power for the mill. Only two stories of the old building survive, it having been lowered and a flat constructed. A large modern building has been erected across the street (2). On OS 1st ed. 25" and 6" maps (3 & 4). Driven by a 20’ (6.1m) diameter waterwheel (5).

<1> Calladine A & Fricker J, 1993, East Cheshire Textile Mills, p. 10-1, 22, 25-33, 43, 85, 161-2 (Book). SCH1093.

<2> Department of the Environment, 1971-2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, SJ86 SE SP/476 (Report). SCH1934.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1881-2, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 6 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH2474.

<5> Longden G, 1988, The Industrial Revolution in East Cheshire: Six Theme Walks, p. 35 (Book). SCH3193.