Bob's Mellor Mill Diary

Bob (Robert Humphrey-Taylor) is leading the excavations at Mellor Mill.
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Bob's Mill Diary - Friday 20th June 2014

We were very pleased to welcome back Aquinas College 'A' level Archaeology students to the dig last Friday.  They worked really hard, clearing and excavating an area around the southern staircase.  We look forward to welcoming six students from Aquinas for their work experience week, 4th - 11th July, when they hope to complete the work on the southern staircase.

Bob's Mill Diary - Sunday 22nd June 2014

Rear entrance to Mill

During the last two weekends we have managed to excavate, a hitherto unknown, stone staircase leadng into the semi basement of the mill at the rear northern end of the central six storey build.  The stair look splendid and we hope that they will eventually form a way into the semi basement and main drive shaft ares of the mill for visitors.  It is looking likely that this staircase was constructed sometime after 1867 and before 1883.  A number of cogwheels and spinning spindles were unearthed which it is believed came from ring spinning machines. Additionally a large number of well rotted shoes covered each tread of the stairs and the floor at the bottom - this looks like a case of fly tipping taking place after the 1892 fire and before the mill is finally demolished some years later.

Early fly tipping, shoes

Rear Entrance to Mill

Bob's Mill Diary - Thursday 25th June 2014

Four MAT trustees signed the 25 year lease for the land at Mellor Mill today. The lease is a requirement of gaining "permission to start" from the Heritage Lottery Fund.  We can now look forward to getting on with the excavations in ernest.  I'm sure 3 years will soon slip by !

Bob's Mill Diary - Sunday 6th July 2014

Spinning Machine Mine

Wow! What a great week end we have just had. Continuing our excavations of the steps at the rear of the mill we have uncovered more  and more  pieces of spinning machines. As the photograph shows the finds are extensive.  John Glithero, our expert on mill machines was down over the weekend wheeling barrows of spoil away from the dig - if we pulled out another piece of machinery whilst he was away tipping his barrow he was jogging back to take a look as soon as he noticed it.  I have to say we are now gettiing a bit blasé about cog wheels and spindles as there are so many in this one small area of the dig - it is probably less than 5% of the total.  We are going to need a large warehouse at this rate.

Pictured below is the largest piece of machinery recovered so far.  It is thought to be the input drive of a spinning machine (identification is ongoing) you can clearly see the pulley over which a drive belt would have passed. It is good that this is supporting theories that many pieces of machinery would not have been recovered by the scrap merchants, following the fire in November 1892, if they were difficult to get at. i.e. below ground level.

Bob's Mill Diary - Monday 7th July 2014

Delighted to receive eight Lower 6th Students of 'A" level Archaeology to the site this week.The Students are from Aquinas College in Stockport doing a one week work experience, what a great group they are.Today, their first day, they have worked really hard and made great progress on the southern staircase area.The stonework is be coming really well defined.  The hope is that an internal staircase will be revealed over the next few days - well done the Aquinas Team!