Monday 21^st October 2019

We left the moorings quite early, despite Brenda having had a bad night’s sleep. Harvey is feeling under the weather and, as always when he is not feeling himself, is restless and forever moving and scratching and disturbing us.

We had overstayed the mooring, it was a 48 hour mooring and we had been there since for Friday morning. No harm though, with only seeing 3 boats moving in 2 weeks. We only moved from one side of Cheddleton to the other, a distance of less than a mile with the two Cheddleton Locks, and moored just beyond the Flint Mill. Another attraction of Cheddleton that again, we had visited before but wanted to visit again on Bridge Street.

This is part of what we are very much enjoying with this life we have chosen. On a hire boat you set a destination and have to go for it no matter what the weather, or what you pass on the way. If you do stop anywhere, your time is limited. However, now, we can stop where we want and spend as much time as we want.

The mill appeared to be closed as we passed it, but it was just opening when we walked back. We had a great tour of the place with Peter, one of the volunteer guides. The Flint Mill consists of a complex of buildings that includes two separate breast-shot water mills, one of 22 feet 5 ins in diameter and the other of 22 feet; a miller's cottage; two flint kilns; a drying kiln and outbuildings. On the same site is a large building that has successively been a brewery, slaughterhouse and fustian producing factory; a set of garages that housed steam traction engines; and a further cottage.

     

Cheddleton Flint Mill

The earliest reference to milling at Cheddleton dates back to 1253 and it is possible that the foundations of the South Mill date back to this period. Another document, dated 1694, refers to corn milling at the site. In the late 18th century the mill was converted to grind flint. The North Mill was built about 1760 specifically for that purpose and the South Mill was converted to grind flint instead of corn.  The ground, calcined flint produced by the mill was becoming a very important ingredient in earthenwares being produced in the nearby Potteries. Josiah Wedgwood had successfully marketed a new product called "creamware" which was becoming very popular. Calcined flint is white and thermally stable, making it an excellent ingredient in the new light-coloured wares that had become fashionable.

There were a large number of Flint Mills in Staffordshire supplying the Potteries, but none actually within the potteries themselves. They were largely sited along the River Trent and Churnet and in Stone. Flints were brought in from North Sea coastal areas and Normandy and before the advent of the canal system, they were transported up the River’s Severn, Trent and Weaver and then carried overland by pack-horse.

The last miller was actually responsible for two mills, the one at Cheddleton and another at Froghall. Apparently he used to set the mill up at Cheddleton, ride his bike to the station where he caught a train to Froghall, operated this mill throughout the day, then returned to Cheddleton. He died at the age of just 62 from silicosis. His daughter, Rene, is still alive, aged 100, and until very recently still lived in the neighbouring cottage and has given the trustees a lot of information about the mill, the site and their lives in general. She must be a fascinating woman to talk to.

Remarkably, the mill was still in operation until 1963.

After our visit we explored this end of Cheddleton although, initially, didn’t find it too attractive. The houses were run-down and lined a steep hill with a very busy road and a narrow pavement. With lorries thundering past inches away, it was not a comfortable experience walking up the hill and we quickly retreated. The Red Lion didn’t look especially inviting and didn’t do food on Mondays anyway.

Walking up Hollow Lane, again a steep climb, we chanced upon the old Cheddleton, a time-less looking place with its cottages, church and the popular Black Lion pub. Not much imagination in pub names here.

The Black Lion only did food at lunch-times and another restaurant, Castro’s, were only open at weekends, so it was to be dinner on board again.

Barry, one of the volunteers at the Flint Mill had mentioned when we visited, that he was going to be doing a sizeable job on the mill in the afternoon so we called in to ask if he wanted help. I was very surprised when he agreed, so it was quickly back to the boat to change and on to the mill. The Wallower Wheel Shaft (the horizontal wheel of a set of bevel gears) of the North Mill had dropped and he was investigating the reason. The shaft sits in a cast iron box that must contain a bearing surface and this box rests within webs cast into the base. The box can also be moved within these webs by use of wooden wedges so as to align the shaft and gearwheel. Beneath the box were shims that had to be replaced in order to raise the shaft. The shaft was jacked up by a small amount and the shims replaced.

     

Wallower Wheel Shaft jacked up and Bearing Box held on wedges

New Shims fitted and area cleaned up ready for assembly

As the whole assembly sits in a grease bath, it was a messy job, but fascinating to be working on something so old, with technology that has stood the test of time. An absolute privilege to have a little involvement in a piece of machinery that James Brindley had a hand in creating.

There are just five volunteers that keep the Flint Mill alive and while Peter is a relative youngster at 60, the rest are older with no youngsters showing any interest. With none of them having any real engineering experience, they struggle, and I was able to give them a fair bit of advice and guidance both with the job in hand and other areas I had noted required some attention. Fantastic, I had really enjoyed my afternoon. For sure, if we lived local, Brenda would not see much of me. The Mill relies solely on public donations and, while there, one of the volunteers gave tours to three separate groups of people, none of whom contributed anything. Shameful really.  

Weather: a pleasant, chilly day. 

Day Total: 2 locks; 1 mile; 0 Tunnel; 0 Swing Bridges; 0 Lift Bridges; 0 Boat Lift; Day’s running hours 2.8 

                                                                              (including running for hot water and battery charging)  

Overall Total: 768 locks; 1345 miles; 52 tunnels; 61 Swing Bridges; 14 Lift Bridges; 2 Boat Lifts; total engine running hours 850.8hrs