Monument record MDR10544 - Cornmill Cottage, Cathole, Holymoorside and Walton

Cornmill cottage has been converted from an original mill-building and two millstones are preserved near the drive. The mill was originally connected with the lead industry. An early reference comes from a deed dated 1698. It was called Cathole Mill and stood on the Duke of Newcastle's estates. There was a red lead mill and a pig-lead smelting mill, both under the same roof but apparently worked as separate concerns. The lead-smelting mill continued to operate into the 19th cnetury, but probably stopped working in 1807. It was certainly idle in 1812, when it was leased to one Thomas Hayes for conversion to corn milling. The corn mill was still working in around 1887 but ceased some time after that date, when the succeeding occupier built an extension onto the house towards the road and took out the waterwheel and machinery. (1) Cathole Corn Mill, Holymoorside. A smelting mill and red lead mill were at Cathole, the location being presently known as 'CornMill Cottages', a house conversion. The history of the mill is unclear but in1812 Thomas Hayes leased the mill from the Chatsworth Estate and converted it from a smelter to a corn mill 'at his own expense'. The mill contained three pairs of stones, one black and two grey (or Derbyshire stone). It is marked on the 1876 Ordnance Survey map as 'cathole Corn Mill' and a mill pond is shown adjacent to it. No information is available as to when it stopped working but the property was converted into a house sme years ago. There are presently two millstones in the garden. (2)