Cheshire Cycleway
Nether Alderley
by Alec and Val Scaresbrook
by Alec and Val Scaresbrook
Nether Alderley is a very old settlement, close to an important Saxon east-west trade route which crossed the main north-south route (now the A34) at Artists Lane. Nether means lower and Alderley means Aldred's leah (i.e. meadow).
Nether Alderley Mill
About half a mile (less than a kilometre) south of Artists Lane and the cycleway, on the east side of the A34, is the oldest of Cheshire's restored water-powered flour mills (the others are at Stretton, also on the cycleway, and Bunbury). The National Trust now own this building, which has Tudor roof timbers and contains machinery from the 1850s which was originally used to grind wheat from the Alderley estate (owned by the Stanley family). There are two huge waterwheels, one above the other, driven by water flowing from the dammed pool behind and above the mill, at roof level. Occasionally, flour-milling is demonstrated here.
St Mary's Church
The church is at the end of the lane nearly opposite the mill. It dates from the 14th and 15th centuries and the surprise inside is the Jacobean pew (the Stanley pew) perched on a wall. The pew is in fact a two-storied addition to church, with a room behind and access from outside, via steps to the right of the porch. Next to the church stands the old school, dating from the 17th century with additions in 1817. <a href="#bottom_ad">See the map below
Find this place marked in the centre of this map.
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