User:Sawatts/Sandbox/Jolly Mill, Greater Manchester

The Jolly Mill stands on the banks of the River Douglas in Standish. The waters of the Douglas have powered a corn milling on the site from the 14th Century, up until 1921, with industrial activity only ceasing in 1961.

The surviving 17th Century buildings were renovated in the early 21st Century as a private dwelling.

History
The establishment of a water mill on the site can be traced back to a deed of 1347/1348, granted by Richard de Langtree to John de Standish, in exchange for 2½ acres of land: "John de Standish and his heirs liberty to make a mill or mills on the bank of the Dogles, and the pools and attachments, and to draw the course of the water at their will to the said mills, wheresoever they may be situated on the bank of the said water, namely from the water mill at Worthington as far as the mill of Haigh..."

- Deed granted by Richard de Langtree, 1347/1348

John de Standish was Lord of the Manor of Standish (1326-1353), which was held continuously by the family from 1202 until 1920.

The mill formed part of the Standish family estate until it was broken up in 1921.

During the medieval period, tenant millers held the mill under copyhold. This practice continued until 1690 when William Standish (Lord of the Manor 1682-1705 ) leased the "mess mill and kiln" to Seth Jolley (1660?-1727).

St. Wilfrid Church records show the Jolley family resident at Jolley Mill from at least 1685, at which time the mill already bore their name.

NB: John Jolly of Jolly Milne in Standish is recorded as a trusty friend and executor of Nathaniel Leigh, gentleman.

before 1690
Occupance – Seth Jolley (d.1727), John (son), Ellen (daughter, b.1687) Seth Jolley m. Elizabeth (Taylor) m.1682, d.1689(19 Oct) one Ann Jolley d.20 Jul 1689. Boons of leading dung, harrowing, and shearing – commuted to 2s 6d per service. A holding of 15 acres 2 roods (Lord’s measure). Rent of £1 12s plus boons. Lease for 99 years or three lives

Records show Jolley/Jolly family connection with Standish from before 1500 REF: Another Seth Jolly (c1475-1560) listed as born in Standish, Lancashire.

James Jolly b1692 son of Seth Jolly & Jane (Bamber) (m.1691). Also: Seth Jolly b1729 son of James Jolly, Miller.

Seth Jolley (-1727) –- m.1682 – Elizabeth Taylor (1661-1689)
 * Ellen [f] (1687-) [named after maternal grandmother]
 * John [m] (1685-) [abode: Jolley Mill in Standish]

Seth Jolly (-1727) – m.1691 – Jane Bamber (1676-1696?)
 * James [m] (1692-)

C17
Jolley family also lease adjacent Mill Farm.

The C17 wheel pit remains present today.

1812
Will of Richard Irlam, recorded as owning/leasing Jolly Mill letting/subletting to tenants.


 * Will of Richard Irlam of Langtree, farmer:-- to Jane, R.I's wife, for her own use, household goods, furniture, stock, etc., up to the value of £200; to Ellen, daughter of R.I., £20 to be paid within 3 years of R.I's death; to J.I. and heirs, messuage with appurtenances in Standish with Langtree leased to William Peters; to R.I's children annuities of £30 to William, of £20 each to Mary, Thomas, Anna Jane and Sally, of £10 each to Betty and Alice, these annuities chargeable to Jolly Mill in Standish, and a cottage and lands with appurtenances in Blackrod; to J.I., and W.I., and heirs as tenants in common the said corn mill; to A.J.I., and S.I., and heirs, as tenants in common, property in Blackrod before mentioned. Executors: Jane Irlam, William Irlam.


 * Will of Jane Irlam of Standish with Langtree, widow; -- To Sarah and Jane, J.I's daughters, and their heirs, leasehold messuage with appurtenances in Standish with Langtree, for J.I's term of interest therein, and subject to the conditions in the original lease, in joint tenure, in trust to collect and distribute the rents from the said property among themselves and Betty J.I's daughter and their heirs, unless either J. or S. wishes to live there. To S. and J. all household goods and furniture in the said house, subject to the payment to Ellen, Betty and Alice, J.I's daughters, £20 each in yearly instalments of £6.13.4. To S.J. and B. residue, after payment of funeral and other expenses, of money payable to J.I. under her husband's will from Jolly Mill in Standish with Langtree (see). To S. and J. residue and debt of £30 owing to J.I. from Mary, her daughter. Condition, that if Jane, J.I's daughter shall remarry, all bequests to her to go to her daughter Margaret. Executors: Sarah and Jane, J.I's daughters.

1815 – burial of one Ann Garner (74) of Jolly Mill

1816 – burial of one Betty Hunter (21) of Jolly Mill

1833
Richard Berry, Ellen (wife), - weavers

Pater Moon – farmer

1842
Willaim Irlam – leasee

John Ambrose & family – miller

John Prescott, Thomas Sharrock - employees

1890
John Ambrose Jnr has a water turbine fitted. This, along with the regular and efficient supply of water provided by the R Douglas, allowed the mill to continue grinding corn until the early years of C20.

By this time (1891 census) Woodlands had been built.

1909
Mary Pennington, miller.

By 1910 the mill pond had been adapted at the Curling Pond of the Wigan & Haigh Curling Club.

1918
Mill “William Bentley” resident at nearby house “The Woodlands”. Last miller.

1921
Sold, along with the rest of the Standish estate.

''Mill, Mill Race, and land situated at Chorley Lane and known as Jolly Mill containing 7 acres 0 roods 31 perchces. All that disused''

To Harold Fairhurst (motor engineer & wood worker). Mill changed from corn (flour) mill to saw mill. Mill operates as a motor workshop and clog sole factory.

Listed as lot 60 as "Jolley Mill (disused)" on "Copy of Bill of Sale of Standish Estate". Note that the Bill of Sales does not list the Woodlands house. Records show (?) this to be occupied at the time, and can be presumed to be in private ownership not part of the estate.

1961
Ceased industry

1990s
William Fairhurst, last owner-manager of the now derelict mill. Property (listed building) sold for restoration.

2000s
The site was studied by the University of Manchester Archaeological Unit in 2002.

Main mill building coverted to a house, sold for £530,000 on 4 Feb 2011.

Mayflower Conservation Area encloses the mill buildings at its southern extent.

Standish Family
Lords of the Manor of Standish

Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, Vol 55-56, 1905

An old water-mill, situated 1 1/2 mile south-east of Standish Church, called "Jolly Mill", perpetuates the family name. Over the door of the mill-house are the initials 'IEI' (?) and date 1654. There is an account of the Jolly family of Standish in Chetham Society, vol. 33, by Lieut.-Col, Fishwick.

"IEI" may stand for "James E Jolley".