Shore Mill

Shore Mill is a water-powered carding mill dating to the early 1780s. Constructed of hammer-dressed stone with a graduated stone slate roof, it stands near Saddleworth Delph. The building is three storeys high and features a centrally placed undershot waterwheel. Originally, there were two blocked doorways, now windows, and a later doorway on either side of a pair of two-light windows, representing what was once a longer row. Windows on the first and second floors have twelve lights, with every third mullion being a king mullion. All windows feature flat-faced recessed stone mullions. A gable stack and taking-in doors are located in the gables. The rear of the mill retains a blocked arched opening for the mill leat, along with four and three-light ground floor windows, two five-light first floor windows, and a twelve-light second floor window. Inside, a reconstructed waterwheel has replaced the original overshot wheel. The timber beam single-span floors incorporate an interesting pre-stressing mechanism, using wrought-iron tie-rods, dating to the late 19th century, to manage increased loading on the beams. The mill was originally used for the willeying process within the woollen industry. It is a rare example of an early water-powered mill built for factory production, yet maintaining a vernacular, domestic architectural style.