Mobberley Mill
There will have been corn mills in Mobberley for centuries but in 1615 the Old Corn Mill belonged to George Talbot and was sold to Andrew Carrington and then onto the Legh family of Booths (Hall). In a 1788 Directory it was described as a "cotton factory for the doubling of fine yarn" An article in the Manchester Mercury of 20th April 1802 advertises to be sold or let for a term of years "All those newly created Corn and Cotton Mills known by the name of Mobberley Mills, together with all the Cotton Machinery, consisting of spinning mule frames, and water twill frames, with carding, roving and drawing frames and engines complete to work the same with every other necessary and convenient article used and wanted for the spinning of both weft and twist - the Corn Mill contains four pairs of grinding stones, machines, malt rollers, giers (sic) and every other necessary and convenient article for the use of drying, grinding, and dressing corn for market, together with the outbuilding adjoining, and some excellent land. N.B the whole of the buildings are nearly new having only been built about four years, and the corn mills with all their parts are entirely new, having a powerful water wheel to work the same. The cotton machinery is entirely new." The Owner is William Chapman, a name well known in the history of Mobberley.
It appears that the Mill was let to John and Edward Hughes. John Hill Eckersley took over the Mill in the 1830s and installed some sort of power back-up to the water wheel. Oliver of Bollington had the mill in the 1850s but by in the 1860s it was converted into a silk mill for the production of Albert Crepe. The owner at that time was W J Harter who lived at the New Hall (and who funded the establishment of the Infants' School in Hall Lane). By 1864 the Mill is in the hands of Messrs Kay and Richardson, Silk Manufacturers but the trade disappeared and in January 1888 (see below) the equipment was advertised for sale.
The Mill closed at the end of the 1880s. The School log books for October 1887 report the loss of some children due to its 'stoppage'. Two employees went to Germany to show them how to manufacture the Crepe. One of them is now buried in St Wilfrid's where his headstone says that he died at Vohwinkel, near Wuppertal in 1890. (See the Cawley page). The Mill was then demolished.
It appears that the Mill was let to John and Edward Hughes. John Hill Eckersley took over the Mill in the 1830s and installed some sort of power back-up to the water wheel. Oliver of Bollington had the mill in the 1850s but by in the 1860s it was converted into a silk mill for the production of Albert Crepe. The owner at that time was W J Harter who lived at the New Hall (and who funded the establishment of the Infants' School in Hall Lane). By 1864 the Mill is in the hands of Messrs Kay and Richardson, Silk Manufacturers but the trade disappeared and in January 1888 (see below) the equipment was advertised for sale.
The Mill closed at the end of the 1880s. The School log books for October 1887 report the loss of some children due to its 'stoppage'. Two employees went to Germany to show them how to manufacture the Crepe. One of them is now buried in St Wilfrid's where his headstone says that he died at Vohwinkel, near Wuppertal in 1890. (See the Cawley page). The Mill was then demolished.
Kentish Times and Farmers’ Gazette 30 May 1885
In accordance with your wishes your deputation journeyed to Manchester to see Mr Mansfield and his system of making oil gas, and we beg to make the following report:- We visited Mobberley Mills on Wednesday the 29th proximo, in company with Mr. Mansfield and Mr. Rowland, to whose practical suggestions the deputations are much indebted, and found the engineer (Mr. Spencer), who had the apparatus fully at work making gas.
The plant consisted of three producers (of Mr. Mansfield’s construction), with water condenser and pipes leading to a gasholder containing when fully charged 5,880 cubic feet of gas. This holder with its connections was originally constructed for reception of coal gas and has been in use for 20 years; we have but little doubt but that a certain escape of gas was taking place throughout the whole system, partly owing to the age of the plant, and partly from the loose way in which the manufacture was carried on. Owing to a confusion of Mr. Mansfield’s orders, or from a carelessness on the part of the engineer, we were unable to test(as we had intended to do) the exact cost of producing the gas, but as far as we could learn 1 gallon of oil produced from 80 to 100 cubic feet of gas, 11 gallons of oil produced from 1.000 cubic feet, 11 gallons at 9d., 8s, 3d; add 1s. 6d. per m, for coal 9d.9d.
The cost of labour and wear and tear, together with depreciation and interest must necessarily depend on the size of plant and on other considerations, but from what we saw at Mobberley Mills, we are of opinion that with an increased cost for fuel, that light will not be manufactured at Wingham at less than 12s. 6d. per m., this price however should cover all etc……
In accordance with your wishes your deputation journeyed to Manchester to see Mr Mansfield and his system of making oil gas, and we beg to make the following report:- We visited Mobberley Mills on Wednesday the 29th proximo, in company with Mr. Mansfield and Mr. Rowland, to whose practical suggestions the deputations are much indebted, and found the engineer (Mr. Spencer), who had the apparatus fully at work making gas.
The plant consisted of three producers (of Mr. Mansfield’s construction), with water condenser and pipes leading to a gasholder containing when fully charged 5,880 cubic feet of gas. This holder with its connections was originally constructed for reception of coal gas and has been in use for 20 years; we have but little doubt but that a certain escape of gas was taking place throughout the whole system, partly owing to the age of the plant, and partly from the loose way in which the manufacture was carried on. Owing to a confusion of Mr. Mansfield’s orders, or from a carelessness on the part of the engineer, we were unable to test(as we had intended to do) the exact cost of producing the gas, but as far as we could learn 1 gallon of oil produced from 80 to 100 cubic feet of gas, 11 gallons of oil produced from 1.000 cubic feet, 11 gallons at 9d., 8s, 3d; add 1s. 6d. per m, for coal 9d.9d.
The cost of labour and wear and tear, together with depreciation and interest must necessarily depend on the size of plant and on other considerations, but from what we saw at Mobberley Mills, we are of opinion that with an increased cost for fuel, that light will not be manufactured at Wingham at less than 12s. 6d. per m., this price however should cover all etc……