Wood Mill, Woodley

In 1841, Wood Mill was owned by William Vaudrey and used as a bone mill, the final product of which was used to fertilise local land. Originally the mill was water powered using a fast flowing stream, running from Werneth Low, that ran alongside the building. There was also a water reservoir (mill dam) situated south of the building to increase the head of water available for the water wheel.

In 1864, John Lees Buckley acquired Wood Mill. It was at this time that Wood Mill was rebuilt to allow for fur blowing, carding and wool washing for the hatting industry. It was also around this time that the Buckley family rebuilt other mills in the area. Bottom Mill (then renamed Botany Mill, later changed to Wellington Works) in 1864, Top Mill in 1872 (extended in 1877) and Middle Mill in 1883 (later renamed Thorn Works). It is also known that the Buckley family ween keen Methodists, and in 1868 they built Woodley Methodist Church (rebuilt 1998).

Wood Mill being demolished in 1964 after the collapse of Ashbrooks (1932) Ltd.

In the 1930s Wood Mill was occupied by Ashbrooks (1932) Limited (directors: Frederick Fletcher & Gertrude Fletcher), manufactures of fine art colours, pigments and chemicals. It was during this period that the larger chimney was built for the use of a boiler. This company used the building until its subsequent demise in early 1964. It was later in this year that the building was demolished, however it wasn't until a number of years later when the chimney was taken down.

Currently, the site of Wood Mill is heavily overgrown with trees. However two stone walls survive, at around 3 metres in height. Alongside this is the remains of a concrete wall, built around 1950 and used to filter out chemicals and colours that would otherwise flow into the River Tame. Further up the stream is red brick wall with irrigation pipes inside. There is also a concrete floor/foundation running between the end of the stone wall and the start of the red brick wall. The water reservoir (mill dam) has since been drained, however there are still stone walls that were used to hold the water.

The stream at the site of Wood Mill, 2009, with stone wall on left.

The stream running alongside Wood Mill can be mapped to a source from Werneth Low. After flowing under The Peak Forest Canal at Woodley Wharf, the water flows through an area that was once a Mill Dam for Top Mill. From here it goes through a culvert under Mill Pool Close into an area that was once the Mill Dam for Middle Mill (now known as Thorn Works). It is from here that it flows under the road once again, past Botany Mill (now Wellington Works) through a number of culverts until it surfaces alongside the site of Wood Mill, under the road and into the River Tame.

• List of mills in Stockport
• Woodley, Greater Manchester

Books

• Middleton, T (1899). Annals of Hyde and District. Cartwright & Rattray Ltd., 12 & 14 Brown Street, Manchester.
• Middleton, T (1932). The History of Hyde and its Neighbourhood. The Hinghan Press - Hamnett Street.
• Butterworth, J (1827). A History and Description of the Towns and Parishes of Stockport, Ashton-Under-Lyne, Moltram, Longdendale and Glossop. W D Varey, St Ann's Square.
• Frost, R & Simpson, I (1988). Woodley and Greave. Stockport Historical Society.
• Hunter, R (1974). A Short History of Bredbury and Romiley with Woodley and Compstall.

Internet

• http://www.pittdixon.go-plus.net/lpfc-woodley-wharf/lpfc-woodley-wharf.htm
• http://maps.cheshire.gov.uk/tithemaps/Default.aspx

Maps

• Tithe Map 1841
• Ordnance Survey, Cheshire 1872
• Ordnance Survey, Cheshire 1898
• Ordnance Survey, Cheshire 1910
• Ordnance Survey, Cheshire 1934
• Ordnance Survey, Cheshire 1965

Miscellaneous

• Greater Manchester Archaeological Unit Monument Full Report