Waller's Mill, New Islington, Ancoats, Manchester. Greater Manchester. Archaeological Evaluation Interim report.

In September 2004, Oxford Archaeology North (OA North) was commissioned by Mr Richard Hattan of Urban Splash Ltd to carry out an archaeological evaluation in advance of the proposed development of land at New Islington, Ancoats, Manchester (centred on SJ 8525 9867). Documentary research has indicated that a textile mill occupied the site by 1800,
which, following on from the results of a desk-based assessment (UMAU 2002), had been recommended by the Assistant County Archaeologist for Greater Manchester for
archaeological evaluation in advance of development. The evaluation comprised the excavation of five targeted trial trenches, and was undertaken by OA North during
September 2004. This was coupled with an archaeological watching brief, which monitored the excavation of a series of test pits within the footprint of the mill to
inform the site remediation programme, and was undertaken in October 2004.
There are few archive sources pertaining to the construction and operation of the mill, although those available have demonstrated its origins to be associated with the initial
burst of factory-based textile manufacture in the area during the late 18th/early 19th centuries. It seems likely that the mill was steam-powered from its inception, although
there is no evidence within the archive sources to confirm this. Map regression analysis has indicated that the mill had been dismantled by the 1840s, and therefore any surviving buried remains would have a potential to inform a greater understanding of the early period of steam-powered textile production.