| Description | Tenter banks on Hollins Mill Lane, Warley. Late 18th century.
The tenter banks on Hollins mill Lane were the subject of an archaeological assessment by Colum Giles (RCHME) in 1988. Giles described this feature as a deliberate attempt to use the narrow area between the road and the Rochdale Canal. The bank was modified into long narrow terraces with steps apparently for a special purpose. This together, with local information suggests that the feature was associated with the local textile industry, as a tenter or drying ground. If this is the case, then this is a feature without parallel and of considerable interest (Giles, C. (RCHME). 05/08/1988. Correspondence to Thornborrow, P.H. (WYAS) regarding tenter bank on Hollins Mill Lane).
Peter Thornborrow (WYAS) also made an assessment of the site in 1988, The photographic images produced by the assessment are held by WYAAS (Thornborrow, P.H. (WYAS). 1988). Thornborrow describes this feature as a stepped terrace on two levels. At the eastern end is the base from a mill chimney. 35m along is a break in the stone walling and a flight of eleven steps leading to the first level which is flat and may be flagged. The wall which forms the second level has a small stepped wall in front. A second flight of stone steps leads to the second level. Thornborrow suggests the date of this feature is contemporary with the construction of the canal in 1797/1778.
At the western end of the terrace is a brick and reinforced concrete coal store used as an air raid shelter.
(Thornborrow, P.H. (WYAS). 1988).
Late 19th centur OS mapping depicts tenters in this location (OS 25' 1st edition. c.1894). |