Summary

A water powered hammer forge mill with associated mill pond and leats, situated on Ganlow Brook, north-east of Churchill village.

The scheduled area includes the mill pond and earthwork dam, the brick retaining walls of the overflow leat, the forge area and the tailrace which extends to the west.

Source: Historic England

Details

PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS: The monument includes a water management system with mill pond and leats. It is situated on Ganlow Brook, north-east of Churchill village.

DESCRIPTION: The forge at Churchill consists of three brick buildings, probably dating from the early C19, with two water wheels providing power. These buildings sit in a small courtyard, with a large mill pond to the east behind a retaining dam and leats to the north and west. The pond is fed from the east, with further ponds up stream which historic mapping shows were also associated with mill and forge sites (not part of the monument). It is understood that the pond was drained during the 1970s, at which time an earlier, smaller dam was observed to the east of the present dam. At the north-west extent of the pond, there is a timber sluice gate which controls the overflow leat, with a retaining structure mostly of brick, with some concrete repairs. Sections of the leat have retaining walls of most likely C19 engineering brick laid in English bond with stone cappings. The leat flows west and south-west, before joining the tailrace leat. A representative sample of the overflow leat with brick retaining walls is included within the scheduling to preserve its relationship to the other water management features. The sluice gate and mechanism and the remainder of the leat are excluded from the scheduling.

A further sluice to the south, positioned approximately centrally on the dam, also has a timber sluice gate with brick retaining structure; this sluice gate and mechanism are also excluded from the scheduling. The sluice controls the flow of water to the two water wheels, with header tanks over. The northern wheel powers the machinery in the northern building, including the drop hammers, and the southern wheel powers the blower in the south building which feeds the furnace. Below the wheels are brick tailraces which continue underground and feed the leat beyond, which flows south-west.

Between the forge buildings is a working yard which is partly covered by an open, roofed structure on thin metal columns, probably of C20 construction. This structure is excluded from the scheduling.

EXCLUSIONS: The C19 mill buildings (Listed Grade II) and the freestanding structure in the yard between them are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them is included. In addition all modern fences, fence post, gates, gate posts, signage, steps and road surfaces are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them is included. Both sluice gates and sluice mechanisms are also excluded.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Churchill Forge, a water powered hammer forge and mill with associated pond and leats, is scheduled for the following principal reasons:

* Survival: the site survives well as water powered hammer forge site with an intact water management system;
* Potential: the site retains archaeological deposits which have considerable potential for furthering our understanding of milling in the area. In particular evidence for earlier dam structures are believed to survive within the current millpond;
* Historic interest: the water powered forge is a good example of its type and, together with the listed buildings on the site which retain historic machinery, allow an understanding of the industry and its development;
* Rarity: intact forges with associated water management systems are relatively rare nationally adding to their historic interest.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Websites
Churchill Forge website, accessed 12.01.16 from www.churchillforge.org.uk
Other
Birmingham City University Student S14141764: Conservation Management Plan - Churchill Forge

Source: Historic England