Monument Type(s):

• MILL RACE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1901 AD)

Summary

Earthwork remains of a mill race down stream of the site of Manor Mill and seemingly ending in a water feature around Shifnal Manor.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA8331 - 1994 DBA at Manor Farm, Shifnal by Tempus Reparatum

Description

Earthwork remains of a mill race down stream of the site of Manor Mill and seemingly ending in a water feature around Shifnal Manor.
Leat shown on OS 1st edition 1:10560 map.<1>

Also shown on OS 2nd edition 1:2,500 map.<2>

Visited and described during field survey carried out across this area in 1994. The tail race is free flowing and contained within a quite broad channel (sometimes over 2m wide but more usually between lm and 1.5m). The depth varies between 0.5m and 1.0m. The unlined race has a gentle, broad, U—shaped profile. There is evidence for both erosion and recutting of the feature which must lessen its archaeological value. ->

-> For much of its course the tail race is straight and aligned SSW, running roughly central to the valley. As it approaches the foot of the manor house promontory — which projects into the valley —the race changes to a more southerly course following the base of the promontory before changing to a more sinuous course turning eastwards to join the Wesley brook (NGR SJ 7410 0625). ->

-> The course of the tail race is quite clearly shown on the estate map of 1635 and, as this pre-dates the mill [PRN 00750], the assumption has to be that the tail race is in origin a feature connected with the Shifnal blast furnace of 1564. As with the furnace pool the tail race was reused in the 18th century for the purposes of the mill. <3>

Sources

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.