The History of Mellor
The Mellor Heritage Project will cover the history of the whole parish of Mellor, which lies between the Goyt and the Etherow and comprises of the ancient townships of Mellor and Ludworth. The historical studies will cover the earliest records of Norman and Medieval times, through the coming of the textile mills at the end of the 18th Century and their decline and closure in the 19th Century, followed by the growth in the 20th Century of the area as a tourist attraction and a wealthy commuter community.
A particularly fascinating aspect of this will be the interface where the Archaeology meets the History - The Medieval period when the people who built and lived in our Aisled Hall used the pottery whose fragments we find in the Old Vicarage garden and started to leave written documents about their lives in the form of wills and legal disputes over land and property.
The various archives and maps make up the greater part of this research for the earlier period, but as time went on buildings begin to play an increasing part in giving us a fuller picture of the life of the previous inhabitants of the area.
Ann Hearle introduces the History of the area
Historic Buildings surveys
How to Survey Historic Buildings
The Historic Environment Record
Greater Manchester HER
The Romans in the North West
