Union Mill
Union Mill, Union Road, Macclesfield
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1210397
- Date first listed:
- 06-Sept-1989
- List Entry Name:
- Union Mill
- Statutory Address:
- Union Mill, Union Road, Macclesfield
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 1999-08-23
- Reference:
- IOE01/01618/12
- Rights:
- © Ms Patricia Layhe. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1210397
- Date first listed:
- 06-Sept-1989
- List Entry Name:
- Union Mill
- Statutory Address 1:
- Union Mill, Union Road, Macclesfield
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- Union Mill, Union Road, Macclesfield
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Cheshire East (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Macclesfield
- National Grid Reference:
- SJ 92440 73373
Details
SJ 9273
886-1/7/208
MACCLESFIELD
UNION ROAD (north side),
Union Mill
06/09/89
GV
II
Flour mill, disused at time of survey. c1830, when the Macclesfield Canal was constructed. Brick with Welsh slate roof partially replaced by flat roof following fire damage. Five storeys, 17 x 3 bays.
EXTERIOR: canal-side elevation: internal engine house to right marked externally by round-arched window running through two lower floors in bay 16. Former boiler house adjoins as a tall, single storeyed structure to right with round-headed window to gable wall. Corner circular section stack, on plinth but with cap missing, on right-hand angle over engine house bay. Windows in main body of mill largely renewed as casements in original openings, but original or early 36-pane sash windows survive in upper floor. Fourth bay (from left) formerly for loading, slightly recessed, with renewed windows replacing loading doors but retaining massive cast-iron lintels.
Canal branch enters at eighth bay with heavily rusticated round-headed arch. Two-window, two-storeyed range added to left. Coped gables each side, that to west raised in the form of a pediment to conceal ridge clerestory to roof. Clerestory formerly ran the length of the mill, but the roof structure over the eastern section was destroyed by fire c1970. Decorative brick eaves cornice and parapet throughout, with openwork iron brattishing. Central loading openings in eastern gable wall cut by two storeyed extension.
Rear (courtyard) elevation: regular fenestration with original small-paned sashes to upper floor, renewed two-pane casements elsewhere. Original loading bay visible at bay 14, and possible loading or fire doors in bays 7 and 8. Added lift shaft projects from centre.
INTERIOR: the mill is laterally divided by a fire-proof wall on each floor, separating different aspects of processing. Constructional technique in each part varies, with brick arches carried on two rows of cast-iron columns in the western section, timber beams carried on cast-iron columns to east. Eastern section has cast-iron brackets to columns, apparently to secure tension rods, some of which survive on lower floors, spanning the outer aisles of the mill between columns and external walls. Engine house bay to west also separated by fire-proof wall, and with brick arched ceiling construction. Queen-post roof structure over all, partially replaced over eastern section following fire.
The mill is a good example of a large processing unit integrated with the canal system. It became the first producer of the famous Hovis brand of flour in 1886, and was used as the tin and bag making works of Hovis after 1914.
Listing NGR: SJ9244073373
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 391116
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 02-Jul-2026 at 10:00:22.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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