Visual Buildings Record (Level 1), Watching Brief at Haugh Mill

Addyman Archaeology undertook Historic Building Recording and a watching brief at Haugh Mill Farm, Haugh of Urr in advance of the construction of a new dwelling. The site appears in the local HER (MDG29450) as the site of the former Haugh Mill, a corn mill depicted on the first and second edition Ordnance Survey maps. The building which until recently stood on the site was thought to be the last upstanding building relating to the mill. Historic maps were consulted before onsite work began. Regrettably the building was removed before the building recording condition was applied, therefore the historic building recording was undertaken using photographs and architect's drawings. The excavation of the foundation trenches for the new house was carried out under archaeological supervision. The results of the building recording and the watching brief were combined in a single report. The building was originally a larger structure which had been reduced in length, most likely with a former internal partition which became the rear wall. A small window was slapped through the now external wall most likely following the demolition of the rear range. The watching brief uncovered an area of disturbance in the location of the demolished building. Several other areas of disturbed ground were encountered where mature trees had formerly stood. At the southwest corner of the trenching a substantial stone wall was uncovered within the section of the trench. The wall was sat on natural within a cut. The masonry was bonded with lime mortar and is thought to have been part of the Haugh Mill. Two stone grinding wheels and two sections of an iron mill wheel were recovered during the site clearance. The area directly to the south of the site had been excavated to a considerable depth to allow the installation of a gas main. It is therefore likely that much of the remains of the mill and associated structures have been lost.