Monument record MDR8879 - Sheepwash, south-east of Damside Farm, Peak Forest

A rectangular pond and pound lie to the rear of a dam wall at Peak Forest [SMR 11621]. The pound wall is sited on earlier stone footings - possibly a mill. (1). A mill is noted on a map of 1807 at the location of the current house, downstream of the sheepwash. (2). A building called 'Mill Cottage' is recorded on the 1880 Ordnance Survey map, nine metres south of the sheepwash and holding. (3). Sheepwash and holding pen immediately west of the dam [SMR 11621] on the south side of Peak Forest. The outflow from the reservoir was used to water a large rectangular pond with sloped access/exit from the east to the deepest part to the west, beyond which the holding pen is located. The east wall has a sheep-size gap through which the sheep were forced into the sheep wash. The site was restored by conservation volunteers in 1987 - the holding pen walls were rebuilt, silt was removed from the pond and the surrounding stonework was made good. Potatoes were subsequently grown in the holding pen. (4)