Well what a mixed weekend that was.  Saturday was so foul, with temperatures below zero and a wind that cut through you like a knife, that we made the decision to abandon the idea of working down at the mill site. 

Saturday 23rd Horrible - no work

However, Sunday though still cold was much better.  The wind wasn't as stiff and temperatures were a tadge above freezing.  So Rachel and Bob got to work on the area where we thought the front door of "Mellor Lodge" would have been.  By the afternoon we had found the inner and outer lintels which spanned the tunnel coming across from the stable block on the other side of the road. Next we managed to break through from the surface into the tunnel - a great day’s work.

Bob

Sunday 24th much better - work

  For clarity a picture of Mellor Lodge. Mellor & Marple Lodges were built by Oldknow for the housing of the Mill Manager (Marple) and himself (Mellor)in 1794. Note semi-circular front.

Pictured sourced, with thanks, from 

http://visitmarple.co.uk/photos/thumbnails.php?album=11

Mellor Lodge, was demolished in 1949, serving as a girls school in the 1930's, but was then the subject of vandalism.