Sawmill

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 06/01/2020

SJ 78 NW 6/91

DUNHAM MASSEY DUNHAM PARK Sawmill

(formerly listed as High Towncorn Mill)

5.3.59

GV II* Watermill, originally a cornmill, converted to a sawmill in mid C19. Possibly 1616 for "old" Sir George Booth, but definitely pre 1697. English garden wall bond brickwork with stone dressings and graduated stone slate roof. Two storeys plus attic. Stone plinth, stone quoins and coped gables with kneelers.

South elevation has a semi-circular stone arched waterwheel housing flanked on either side by stone buttresses; three two-light and three three-light double-chamfered stone mullion windows (some later) with leaded casements and two gables (although the main roof runs longitudinally). Each end elevation has an oeil-de-boeuf within the gable which was added in 1756 when some other alterations were made. The north side has a small projecting wing with stone dressed oeil-de-boeuf and a shaped brick chimney shaft to the carpenter's shop. Door openings occur in each elevation. The other window openings appear to be of a later date. Each storey is divided into two rooms by a half-timbered partition. On the ground floor is the overshot waterwheel (reconstructed) in one room and a lathe in the other. On the first floor (which because of the crossfall has access at ground level) is the carpenter's shop in one room and frame saw, wood-boring machine and circular saw in the other. The attic is reached by a central flight of steps and formerly housed the granary.

A rare and well preserved example of a C17 watermill which was restored and much of the machinery re-constructed in 1980, resulting in a fine working example.

Listing NGR: SJ7345787247