Lower Mill, Mill Lane, Cheadle, Cheshire.Archaeological Investigation Interim report.

JCS Homes Ltd has recently submitted a planning application to Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) for the redevelopment of Cheadle Lower Mill in Cheadle, Cheshire (centred on NGR SJ 855 890). The application site is of
considerable historical and archaeological interest, and is entered on the Greater Manchester Historic Environment Record database (2515.1.0 – GM3232). In particular, the site is known to have been occupied by a corn mill from at least the late 12th century, and was converted for use as a textile bleaching works in 1874. A period of rapid development then ensued, although the bleach works closed during the early 1930s, and the site was acquired by the Standard Chemical Co. The site has been derelict since 1996, and the component buildings have deteriorated considerably
during the last 12 years.In order to secure archaeological interests, SMBC placed an archaeological condition on the planning permission, which required an appropriate programme of archaeological investigation to be devised and carried out in advance of development.
In November 2007, Oxford Archaeology North was commissioned by Halliday Meecham Architects Ltd, acting on behalf of JSC Homes Ltd, to devise and execute an appropriate programme of archaeological works. Following consultation with the
Greater Manchester County Archaeologist, who provides archaeological advice to SMBC, it was recommended that in the first instance an English Heritage Level IItype
survey of the extant buildings, coupled with historical research into the development of the site, was required in advance of any demolition.