Rock works discover steam powered mill

Reporter: Ask Bury
Date online: 18 December 2006

Works which have begun to make way for the multimillion pound Rock development by Thornfield are revealing some interesting archaeological remains.

A major programme of archaeological works has been agreed after extensive negotiations between Bury’s archaeology advisor, Norman Redhead of Greater Manchester Archaeological Unit and Thornfield’s archaeological consultant, Nansi Rosenberg of Under Construction Archaeology. 

The archaeological work is being funded by Thornfield Properties Plc and forms part of the planning application conditions for the new development.

Over the past few months locals will have noticed a number of evaluation trenches have appeared across the development site. Following the discovery of some structural remains, Oxford Archaeology North was commissioned to conduct more detailed excavation on targeted areas to discover more about the site before the major works begin.

The first area to be excavated was the site of James Kenyon amp; Son’s woollen mill on Derby Street. The mill was built in 1867 as an addition to Kenyon’s expanding complex of woollen factories on Derby Street, which specialised in the production of industrial felts for the paper-making industry. Few plans of the mill exist, and little is known about its internal layout. In particular, the excavation was targeted on the site of the steam engine and its associated boilers and chimney that had powered the mill.

The excavation has exposed extensive remains of the steam-power plant, namely the engine foundations, the boiler house and the chimney, and has allowed their development over time to be charted.

There are no concerns that archaeological finds will stop the development as they are not of national significance, which would merit a preservation order to keep them in place. The remains however will be drawn, photographed and documented precisely in a painstaking process that will ultimately end up in Bury’s archives.

Councillor John Byrne Executive Member for Environment and Transport said: "The Rock development, which is very much Bury’s future is uncovering some fascinating discoveries about Bury’s history. I am really enjoying discovering more about our town which is so close to my own heart."

People are urged not to wander onsite looking for excavations as work remains in progress.