Higher Mill, Rawtenstall, Lancashire- Documentary Research, Building Assessment, Watching Brief and Excavation

B & E Boys Ltd Ltd submitted a planning application for the development of land occupied by Higher Mill, Rawtenstall (SD 814 230). The development proposal included the demolition of the historic structures on site to facilitate the construction of new office accommodation. As a condition of the planning consent, the Local Planning Authority, acting on the recommendation of Lancashire County Archaeology Service (LCAS), requested a programme of rapid documentary research, building assessment and an archaeological watching brief to be undertaken prior to and during the demolition works. Oxford Archaeology North (OA North) was approached by B & E Boys Ltd to submit a project design in response to the verbal brief issued by LCAS (Appendix 1). Following the approval of the project design by LCAS, OA North was commissioned subsequently to undertake the work which took place from June to October of 2007.
The historical research demonstrated that Higher Mill operated both the spinning and weaving of cotton. The mill was constructed at some point during the later half of the nineteenth century by Higher Mill Spinning Co, advertising themselves in Slater’s Directory of 1879. The building description and map regression describes the basic layout of the mill, including position of the steam plant, weaving sheds, spinning sheds and offices. The physical arrangement of the mill complex does not appear to have undergone any major, significant redevelopment or alteration throughout its working life.