Mills Weekend GB0LSM

Activation by Warrington ARC ~ Logbook

Lymm Slitting Mill

The mill just North of Lymm village has recently been reopened, it has been closed since 2005 while it underwent archaeological excavation and improvements to make it more accessible to the public. 
The mill dates back to the 18th century and was used to cut iron bars into rods that were that were used for a variety of purposes including nailmaking. 

Slitting mills consist of two pairs of rolls turned by water wheels. Flat bars of iron about three inches wide and half an inch thick were heated in a furnace and then then passed between flat rolls which made it into a thick plate. it was then passed through the second rolls (known as cutters), which slit it into rods. The cutters had intersecting grooves, which sheared the iron lengthways.

         
    Site of mill, only the outline remains  
         

In the 19th century it was converted into a textile mill. This probably involved the addition of several storeys to the main mill building, implied by the discovery of load-bearing walls across the original rolling and slitting floor.
The textile mill appears to have required one water wheel to power its machinery as one of the wheel pits was abandoned during the conversion.

The excavation has researched the remains of the mill and uncovered more about it’s history.
Visitors can read the new information panels to discover the details. Restoration has been carried out to allow parts of the mill to be left open, so as much of it is on view to the public as possible.
The improvements also include better access from the North and South entrances to Slitten Gorge.

         
  A sleuce controls the flow of the water through the wheel pit   Alternative view of machine room remains.  
         

More information can be found in a new booklet on the mill and local slitting industry, produced by Oxford Archaeology North as part of their archive work. For details contact local Ranger Tim Baker on 01925 758195.

National Mills Weekend

National Mills Weekend 2008 is on Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th May.

Some mills work as commercial businesses, while others are run by enthusiastic volunteers. Fifty years ago, the windmills and watermills of this country were thought to be in terminal decline, but now there has been a renaissance in these wonderful reminders of our past.

Wind and water are sustainable energy sources and were used by mills for centuries in Britain for the production of natural food.

With over 100 mills still working to produce stoneground flour and many of these will be open to the public during National Mills Weekend. In addition, over the weekend, some will be activated by amateur radio stations and many will be welcoming visitors.

The S.P.A.B. Mills section (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) run this event anually on or around the second weekend in May, and Denby Dale Radio Society co-ordinate the Amateur Radio Stations  for the event.

It is not a contest, just for the enjoyment of Amateur Radio and its promotion whilst also helping to preserve some of our heritage.

 

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