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The Mills Of Kingsley

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Introduction

The Domesday Survey (1086) was the first to gather a record of the people, property and, importantly, the value of the Norman conquest in Cheshire. Part of this valuation were the mills remaining after the land was plundered. Of the pre-Norman Saxon mills, only 18 are recorded of which 8 were recorded on the Gowy and it’s tributaries. If there were others, they were destroyed, not working or lost to the past.

Introduced by the Romans, water mills harnessed the power of streams and rivers to initiate the first industrial revolution in Britain. A technology used by the Saxons and extended with the arrival of the Normans. From Domesday to the 1850’s, some 700 water and windmills are known based on tithes and an epic survey of the 1970’s. Again, many others have dissolved through time to leave no trace. A 1000 mills has been suggested evidenced on field names.

Read more: The Mills Of Kingsley

A Tale of Two Mills?

Further to the first article, The Mills Of Kingsley, here is part 2 around the all but forgotten existence of a second water mill. 

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Introduction

Here, the focus is on setting the scene, as there is a lost mill beyond the scope of published information, that is the ghost in this mystery story

The existence of another watermill in Kingsley appeared in a 1824 auction sale in the memoirs of William Gibson (1888-1975), miller, from an unpublished family manuscript.

Embarking on this research was never going to be straightforward. After all, Kingsley mill is as real now as historical documents suggest it was centuries ago. Then, an apparently unknown mill emerges with the same name. A single shred of evidence offers another fascinating dimension to Kingsley history.

The story of one mill, Kingsley, once a manorial flour mill, remains on Mill Lane, now in a more modern guise. Yet, there was another watermill, not far away, on the Kingsley-Delamere parish boundary. This site also held a tower windmill, the kind easily imagined and once more common in Cheshire and named Kingsley Mill too, at least on some maps. Confusingly, the watermill was called Guest’s Slack Mill in 1824. The word slack means a’ hollow’, and Guest, a surname, according to the EPNS1

Mills are recorded in old documents as far back as Domesday. The name of the mill or its specific location, is seldom given. Having two Kingsley mills, only raises doubts to any historical date reference. There are dates ranging from 1257 to 1602 and, on maps from 1775 to the present day. Knowing if all, or some, relate to the present mill is a real problem. Is the original 13th century watermill site at Mill Lane or was it at Guest’s Slack? Perhaps, both were around at the same time? County records present Mill Lane as the likely site of the original medieval mill with supporting evidence, but not elaborated as in the two below. In fairness, County does indicate these in a book by Ormerod (1819).

(In 1302, Allecoke de Kyngesle, the miller and Roger the Miller, at Crouton).,

Both illustrate the difficulty in location and identity. There are other references, with one of 1350 being most persuasive as confirms the original mill site. Oldemulnestude means ‘the old mill on the road,’ and a 1359 deed, Croutonway, is likely confirmation of this passing Kingsley mill, leading to Crowton.

The last documentary date is for 1623, when George Rutter, inherited ‘a watermill, called Kyngsley’). This date might point to the present mill being remodelled or rebuilt at this time. All the key 18th and 19th century maps, and the 1845 Tithe survey, show Kingsley Mill but only the latter, a windmill at Guest’s Slack,

(1 English Place Name Society)

Creating a history for Guest’s Slack mills will demand a level of research without the favour of documents, surveys or memories...

Higher Heyes Development - Updates week beginning 28 September 2020

Site Manager: Ian Forber | Mobile:  0776 486 5200 | Email:     This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Week beginning 28 September 2020

Photos available at https://photos.app.goo.gl/tw7pLbepjnt9xpK89

Good Morning all, 

The boys from the black stuff are coming to Higher Heyes !!!!!!

I am pleased to announce we are finally getting tarmac tomorrow ( Tuesday 29 / 09/20). After weeks and weeks of testing and e mails galore we are getting the road on site base coated with tarmac.

It will take all day to complete, all wagons and plant have been instructed to approach the village the correct way so I will be keeping an eye on that one.

Obviously we wont be able to park on site on Tuesday butwill be able to from Wednesday onwards.

All plots are now under construction and are currently ranging from plots 10 and 11 which now have the roof on, down to plots 1 and 2 which are at first lift scaffold height.

The last of the roof trusses are due on site next week

Kind Regards

IAN FORBER.

Site Manager

Mobile:  07764856200

Email:     This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.