Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Clearwater Paper Mill
Trellech United, Monmouthshire, Wales
A scheduled monument in Trellech United, Monmouthshire, recorded as Mill (Post Medieval/Modern).
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Mill
- Period
- Post Medieval/Modern
- Date of designation
- 18 November 2003
- Community
- Trellech United
- Unitary authority
- Monmouthshire
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 51.75780, -2.68071
- SAM number
- MM294
- Cadw record number
- 3981
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1608 map "(13) Cambriae Typus." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1608 · (13) Cambriae Typus. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1636 · Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ... (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1830 · V.3:11-15:XV.Britisches Reich. A. Kon: England. a. England ab sich: Shire:15-17, 33 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1895 · Sheet 11. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1896 · 233 Monmouth (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Summary description and reason for designation
The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The monument consists of the remains of a mill, a factory used for processing raw materials. Clearwater Mill was established in about 1760, making it the earliest paper mill in the Wye Valley and may have been built on the site of an earlier wireworks. The paper mill was in operation until about 1875, after this at least four papermills were built along the White Brook, which was a clean and reliable water source. The location was ideal as moulds were produced from locally made wire and Bristol was not far by boat, providing rags and a market for paper. The local mills benefited from the new demand for wallpaper in the late 18th century. Clearwater mill was supplied with water power from a dam and millrace, and later by a steam engine and a water turbine. The original machinery may have been largely Hollander beaters supplying hand-operated moulds and presses, but Fourdrinier-type continuous processes were introduced in the early 19th century. The remains include the millrace, two-storey mill building, chimney, culverts, and the platforms of buildings.
The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of manufacturing techniques and processes. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and building techniques.
The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.
Nearby in the register
- Clearwater HouseDomesticunder 1 mi
- Chimney of former Clearwater MillCommercialunder 1 mi
- Cider Mill at Fern BankInstitutionalunder 1 mi
- Whitebrook Wireworks LeatLeatunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.