Garnett's Paper Mill, Otley, West Yorkshire Archaeological Strip, Map and Record and Watching Brief

CFA recorded several phases of below ground remains of Garnett's Paper Mill dating from the 17th Century to the turn of the 20th Century. This is believed to have formed the historic core of the mill, and was located at the east end of the weir on the River Wharfe. The structural remains included a mill race, stone arched culverts and wheel-houses, which later became turbine houses. These water courses still allowed water from the weir to pass through them. Within this structural framework of water courses were areas assigned to differing phases of mechanised processes, all of which underwent multiple, piecemeal alterations over the centuries, with identifiable changes from water power to steam; and from water wheels to water turbines. Whilst the structural remains are no earlier than the 17th century, the earliest in situ walls identified were built on foundations of re-used timbers, though a dendrochronological date could not be obtained from these. Within the backfill, covering these remain were found mill stones, gearing and drive parts, slag, very fine copper alloy remains as well as bottles and ceramics, very little of which was kept due to the contexts in which they were found.