Bob's Mellor Mill Diary
Bob (Robert Humphrey-Taylor) is leading the excavations at Mellor Mill.
Copyright R H-T ©
If you want to volunteer to help, contact Bob at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
By default Bob's Diary is displayed latest post first.
To go to the beginning and display in chronological order click here.
To switch back to the default of latest post first click here.
Bob's Mill Diary - 15th February 2013
A disappointment at the Mellor Mill Site
We recently had a Structural Engineer look at some of our tunnels as part of the Mellor Mill Survey which I am conducting as part of our submission for stage two funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Sadly the tailrace tunnel from the Wellington wheel pit to the Waterloo wheel pit is in a dangerous condition. It is so bad that we will not, for safety reasons, be able to excavate it. We, Mellor Archaeological Trust, decided we had to gate off this tunnel as a matter of urgency since leaving it open is tantamount to allowing people to investigate it with all the risks that would involve. We had hoped to clear this tunnel out and invite visitors to walk through but sadly this will not be possible. However, the tunnel which brought power into the mill via a drive shaft, from the Waterloo Wheel, is in excellent condition and there is every reason to believe this will be a viable route for visitors to use as they progress around the site from the mill to the ancillary buildings down by the River Goyt.
I'll be down there this weekend if you feel like joining us, or just visiting, now that the weather has improved.
Bob's Mill Diary - 6th December 2012
On the day we started to investigate the workshops etc down by the river,
... Arthur Procter agreed to come down for the day and record the action. The following is a small selection of what he witnessed -
The First Cut is made Much Progress is made
'Now, what's this?'
Bob & Donald havinga Review
Bob's Mill Diary - 22nd-24th February 2013
The Back Wall of the Mill Identified!
22nd February: A very good day today with the digger and dumper. We have identified the back wall of the mill (see pictures below) and found a wall of the saw pit/woodworking shop.
Two images of the back wall; the first taken on 22 February and the better one on the right taken 23 February.
24th February: I have erected the red and white tape line on the head race to indicate the outside of the mill rear wall. So the outside depth of the mill is now established as being around 35 feet:
Bob's Mill Diary - 24th February 2013
Wellington Tail Race - necessary measure
This is what we have had to do to prevent people entering the,very dangerous,tail race tunnel from the Wellington Wheel Pit.
Do come down soon and see all the progress we have made exposing the foundations of the ancillary buildings down by the riverside.
Bob's Mill Diary - 6th March 2013
Come and see what we are doing !
The Mellor Mill project enjoys about 200 visitors each weekend. The 'digging volunteers' have found the need to be supported by volunteers willing to be 'Tour Guides' around the site. I would love to hear from any of you who may be interested in becoming a Guide. We currently have 4 trained Guides doing a great job. However, so that we are not asking the same people every weekend, it would be great to have about 8 more.
(photo: A.M.Procter, sourced from Marple Virtual tour,with thanks)
I will be running Training and Update sessions (for established and budding Guides) on Thursday 7th March at 10.30 am and Friday 15th March at 3 pm. Other Training and Update sessions will be arranged as required in the future.
If you would like to come along and see what it is all about and how you might help then just turn up, in stout footwear and appropriate clothing, to one of the sessions. If the dates are not convenient please let me know so that an alternative can be organised.
The Guides are split into 4 half day sessions (two Saturday and two Sunday) with the morning session being 10 am - 1 pm and the afternoon 1 pm - 4 pm. Each Guide is provided with a comprehensive folder of information and images.
Mellor Well Dressing
I pleased to be able to tell you that the theme for this year's Mellor Well Dressing will be Mellor Mill. This will be a great opportunity to promote the industrial heritage of our area to a large number of people. The Well Dressing will take place as part of Mellor Fete on Saturday 29th June. If you Google Mellor Well Dressing 2013 you will see that it is listed on many sites throughout Midlands and North West.
Best wishes to all and if you haven't been down to Mellor Mill for a while you will be in for a big surprise - we are moving on at a pace and work has continued throughout the winter. So even if you have decided the weather isn't quite warm enough for you to continue volunteering do come and have a look and catch up with the action.